Bleeding gums with veneers

[Haslam]

Hi
I had six veneers put in last year and ever since I have been having a real problem with my gums, they just get so sore and irritated and just when I think it has died down it flares back up again. It is not really really painful but its definitely enough to bother me when I am trying to brush my teeth and when I am eating. It also makes me really self conscious because I worry that my gums look terrible around the veneers, which actually look ok at the moment. My dentist does not seem to know what’s going on, so I am not exactly reassured when I go to see him and come out with no improvement at all. Is it possible that I am allergic to something in the veneers or do I have an infection? Any information you can give me on this would be a big help because I am finding it so stressful right now. Does it sound like the veneers will have to come out? I am really worried about loosing my natural teeth
I am thirty-seven years old and I have no health problems, I am not taking any medication, non-smoker and I have never had gum disease before.
Thank you.

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hello,
Thanks for your question.

I’m sorry that you are having problems with your veneers; without looking at them directly, I will only be able to make suggestions for further treatment, rather than a completely accurate diagnosis. Whilst it is possible that you have some type of allergy to the cement or the porcelain I think it is unlikely and your dentist would probably have diagnosed this before now. I would say it is far more likely that the shape or size of the veneers is the problem; if the restorations have been placed too near to the bone underneath the gum line, this would certainly cause some irritation of the tissue and the other symptoms your describe. But this is very rare. Furthermore, if their shape is encroaching too much onto the surrounding gums – i.e. they are too bulky – this can cause a reaction like the one you are experiencing. Your dentist needs to test for these problems by measuring the veneers and making sure that there is no excess cement around them that could be contributing to your condition.

If you don’t have a great deal of confidence in your dentist then you are within your rights to get a second opinion or ask for a referral to a specialist in gum disorders – they may be able to identify the problem more easily. I don’t think you are at risk of losing your natural teeth. Usually the most likely cause is some cement remaining around the veneers which can be easily removed and don't forget you need excellent oral hygiene with veneers as poor maintenance is another common cause of gingivitis with veneers.