What happens to your gums with veneers?

Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the front of teeth to improve their appearance. Getting veneers is a common cosmetic dentistry procedure, but what effect do they have on your gums?

Table of Contents

Do veneers damage gums?

Veneers should not damage healthy gums when properly placed by a skilled cosmetic dentist. However, veneers can potentially cause gum problems in certain situations:

Over-contouring – If veneers are made too thick or extend too far down the tooth, they may impinge on the gums. This can irritate the gums and make them prone to recession.
Poor oral hygiene – Veneers themselves do not cause gum disease, but poor cleaning around veneers can lead to plaque buildup and inflammation.
Existing gum disease – Gum disease needs to be treated and controlled before getting veneers. Otherwise, it may continue to progress and be aggravated.

Allergic reactions – In rare cases, the bonding cement used for veneer placement may provoke an allergic response in the gums.

With proper precautions, veneers are unlikely to harm gums directly. However, they can worsen or highlight pre-existing gum issues. Be sure to maintain excellent oral hygiene and address any gum problems before considering veneers.

Do you need a gum graft with veneers?

Most patients do not require gum grafting solely for veneer placement. However, a gum graft may be recommended in certain situations:

Severe gum recession – Large areas of gum recession may need grafting to provide an adequate tooth structure for veneer bonding.
Excessive tooth length – Gum grafting can lengthen short teeth to better support veneers.
Gummy smile – Grafts can reduce excessive gum tissue for a more aesthetic smile line.

Ridge augmentation – Lost gum tissue and bone can be rebuilt with grafts before veneers.

Gum grafting to enable veneer placement may add time and cost to treatment. But in some cases, it can greatly improve the final result. Your dentist will advise you if grafting is recommended for your situation.

Do veneers change gum line?

Veneers can be used to alter the apparent position of the gum line. Some ways veneers may change the gum line appearance include:

Lengthening teeth – Veneers can add length to teeth, making the gums appear higher.
Realigning gum line – Veneers can mask uneven gum lines by creating a uniform tooth length.
Reducing gums – The gum line can seem lower if excessive gum tissue is reduced before veneers.

No change – Conservative veneers may leave the gum line unchanged.

The gum line can be changed within limits, but the biological gum level cannot be altered. Only surgery like a gum lift can permanently modify the true gum position. Veneers produce changes in the visible gum line by modifying tooth length and proportions.

Can veneers fix gummy smile?

Yes, veneers can be an effective solution for fixing a gummy smile. There are a few ways veneers can reduce excessive gum display:

Lengthening teeth – Longer veneered teeth help reduce visible gum tissue.
Reshaping teeth – Veneers can alter the tooth shape to minimize gums.
Combination treatments – Veneers may be placed after gum contouring or orthodontics.

Optimizing proportions – Veneers can make the teeth appear in better proportion to the gums.

However, veneers alone may not fix a severe gummy smile. Other treatments like gum surgery, botox, or orthodontics may be needed along with veneers to optimize results. Discuss all your options with your cosmetic dentist.

Do veneers change gum color?

Veneers themselves do not change the natural color of your gums. However, veneers can influence the appearance of gum color in a few indirect ways:

Whiter teeth – Brighter veneered teeth can make gum tissue seem slightly darker by comparison.
Extended coverage – If veneers extend slightly over the gumline, the color may seem changed.
Reduced display – Shorter teeth from veneers mean less colored gum visible.

Pink tint – Translucent veneer edges can pick up a subtle pink hue from the gums.

For small color changes, your eyes may adapt over time. If the color difference is marked, cosmetic dentists can sometimes mask it by extending the veneer coverage onto the gumline. The only way to permanently lighten gum color is through surgery.

Can veneers give you gum recession?

Veneers themselves do not cause gum recession if properly designed and fitted. However, in some scenarios, veneers are associated with receding gums:

Over-contoured – Excessively thick veneers can push on the gums, resulting in recession.
Poor bonding – Exposed cement can irritate the gums and cause them to recede.
Underlying disease – Gum disease needs treatment before veneers to prevent continued recession.

Natural progression – Some recession occurs naturally with age and may be coincident with veneers.

To avoid veneers contributing to gum recession, have them placed conservatively by an experienced dentist. Maintain excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits after veneers are placed. Report any gum changes promptly.

Can veneers cover receded gums?

Veneers can effectively mask mild gum recession by extending over the normal tooth anatomy. Some ways veneers conceal receded gums include:

Lengthening – Veneers add length to teeth so less gum shows.
Overlapping – Veneers can partly cover receded areas to hide them.
Aligning – Veneers create an even gum line on uneven teeth.

Proportionalizing – Improved tooth proportions draw attention away from receded gums.

However, veneers have limits for concealing recession. Severely receded gums may still show through or result in unnatural looking teeth. Other treatments like gum grafts should be considered first in significant recession cases.

Can you get veneers with gum disease?

It is not recommended to get veneers if you currently have gum disease. Untreated gum disease can lead to complications with veneers:

Bonding issues – Inflamed gums don’t provide a healthy bonding surface for veneers.
Rapid recession – Gum disease may continue causing gumline recession after veneers.
Infection – Dental work can exacerbate active gum infections.

Esthetic changes – Veneers may need replacement if recession progresses.

The first step is to seek treatment for any periodontal disease and get the gums returned to a state of health. Veneers can then be placed with minimal gum irritation or complications after gum disease is resolved.

How long after gum graft can I get veneers?

It is generally recommended to wait 3-6 months after a gum graft before proceeding with veneers. This allows adequate healing time for the grafted gum tissue. Getting veneers too soon carries some risks:

Disruption of surgery site – Premature bonding may disturb the grafted areas.
Bonding issues – The graft site needs to mature to bond properly with veneers.
Impaired esthetics – More recession or disproportion may result if veneers are placed too early.

Surgical revision – Additional grafting work may be needed if the site is compromised.

Waiting for 3-6 months helps ensure the best veneer placement and esthetic outcome. Your dentist will examine the graft site and advise you when it is ready for veneers based on your individual healing.

Conclusion

While veneers don’t directly damage healthy gums, poor placement, design, oral hygiene or pre-existing gum disease can lead to complications like recession or gum inflammation. For optimal gum health and esthetics, have any gum problems treated first, then get veneers placed conservatively by an expert cosmetic dentist. Maintain excellent oral hygiene before and after veneer placement. Report any unusual gum symptoms promptly to avoid small issues progressing to more significant problems.