Why Are Dark Lines Appearing At The Edges Of Your Dental Veneers?

When you have dental veneers applied to your teeth, only you and the cosmetic dentist who placed them will know for sure. Beyond that, the only people who will know about your dental restorations are anyone you choose to tell. This is because dental veneers inconspicuously become the new surfaces of your teeth, improving their appearance while still looking perfectly natural. This attractive, natural look can be compromised when dark lines start to appear at the edge of your veneers, where they meet your gums. But what's the cause of this rather irritating development? 

Preparing Your Teeth

Dental veneers mustn't make your teeth look bigger, as though your teeth suddenly bulked up. This is why teeth must be prepared for veneers, and this involves a dentist removing a sliver of dental enamel from your teeth. When the veneers are bonded to your teeth, they become the new outward-facing surfaces of your teeth, and courtesy of that strategically removed dental enamel, the overall effect is teeth that don't appear any larger than they did prior to having veneers fitted. 

Not As Seamless As It Should Be

If too much dental enamel was left at the base of the tooth, the veneers may have a small, practically undetectable ridge where they meet your gums. Instead of seamlessly blending into the tooth, the ridge creates a tiny space between your gums and restoration. Given the size and location of this ridge, it's exceptionally difficult to reach it with your toothbrush. Bacteria, microscopic fragments of food, and other contaminants can easily be trapped, and as time goes by, a dark line begins to appear around the edge of the veneer.

Additional Resurfacing

Anyone who notices the formation of a dark line at the edge of their veneers must see their dentist. The dark line will become more and more prominent, and it doesn't matter how diligently you clean your teeth, because you can't get rid of it alone. Your veneers will be temporarily removed, so that the underlying tooth can receive additional resurfacing. A cosmetic dentist may need to remove an additional fraction of dental enamel from the tooth before veneers can be reattached. The veneers will now sit perfectly flat on the tooth, and that discolored ridge will be history.

Aside from the unpleasant look of your veneers, those dark lines aren't exactly hygienic, and so having your veneers reapplied will correct the cosmetic issue at hand, as well as heading off any more serious issues before they happen.


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