Healthy Gums First: Why Your Gums Decide How Natural Veneer Teeth Look

Introduction

When you think about veneers, you think about the teeth themselves: the shape, the shade, how straight they are. The gums are pretty much ignored. The gums do, however, form the frame for every tooth and their health and the way they look will have a massive bearing on whether the veneered teeth look natural or rather obviously artificial.

Puffy, bleeding or receding gums can completely ruin a good set of teeth. That’s why your gums are checked prior to getting veneers. The article goes on to explain what problems the dentist will be looking for and how you can keep your gums in good health once the veneers are in.

Table of Contents

• How gums shape the look of a smile
• Why inflamed gums and veneers don’t mix
• Gum recession and the edge of the veneer
• Uneven gum lines and gummy smiles
• Getting your gums ready
• Looking after gums around veneer teeth
• Conclusion
• Contact Us

How gums shape the look of a smile

Healthy gums are firm; they sit well around the teeth and have a gentle scalloped curve. They’re normally a pink colour (though the degree of pigmentation will vary from individual to individual) and they form the frame around the teeth much as a mount would form a frame around a picture. If the frame is right, you look at the picture (the teeth). If the gums are red, swollen or uneven, then that’s what you notice, regardless of how good the teeth are.

With veneers, the margin (the point where the edge of the veneer meets the gum) is absolutely critical. If the gum at that margin is healthy and stable, the transition from veneer to tooth to gum is seamless. If it’s not, then you get the exact problem that people have when they smile.

Why inflamed gums and veneers don’t mix

Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease. The gums become red, swollen and are very prone to bleeding on brushing. It’s extremely common and is generally very easily reversible with professional cleaning and good home care.

Placing veneers on inflamed gums is problematic in a number of ways. The gums, when inflamed, are at a different level than they will be once they’re healthy, so the veneer edges end up in the wrong place when the gums have settled. Bleeding during the treatment process can obviously interfere with the accuracy of the scan and with bonding, as the veneer will bond most reliably to a clean, dry surface. Veneer edges sitting against inflamed gums can also exacerbate the inflammation.

Gum disease which has progressed further (to periodontitis) affects the bone that supports the teeth. Teeth with reduced support can move and will require treatment and monitoring prior to any cosmetic work being considered.

Gum recession and the edge of the veneer

Recession occurs when the gums recede and expose more of the tooth (sometimes the root). Brushing too hard, gum disease and grinding are all possible causes.

Recession is important in the case of veneers in two ways. Firstly, prior to treatment it will affect where the veneer should terminate and whether there are any exposed root surfaces to be dealt with. Secondly, post-treatment, if the gums recede any further, the edge of the veneer can become visible as a line at the junction between the veneer and the natural tooth. The exposed root may also be a different shade to the veneer.

Small dark spaces can also occur between the teeth near the gum line where the gum has actually receded. Veneers can occasionally be used to minimise these by re-shaping the teeth, but again the gums will put a limit on how much you can hide.

Uneven gum lines and gummy smiles

Even with healthy gums, the way veneers will look is going to be affected. If the gum line is higher on one of the front teeth than it is on the adjacent tooth, then the teeth can appear to be of different lengths even if the veneers are exactly the same. Some people have a lot of gum showing when they smile, and this can make their teeth look quite short.

In some cases, a dentist will recommend gum contouring prior to veneers for teeth. That simply involves contouring the gum line a bit, either with a laser or with a minor procedure, to give the teeth a more balanced appearance. It’s not something that’s required for every patient, so you should ask whether it would make any real difference in your particular case.

Getting your gums ready

Prep normally starts with a full gum check (including pocket depths), a professional cleaning to remove the plaque and tartar that you can’t get rid of with brushing alone. If there’s any gum disease present, then that’s treated first, followed by a period of time for the gums to settle prior to finalising the veneer plan.

At home it’s all about simplicity really. Just brush twice a day with a soft brush and a light touch and floss or use interdental brushes every day between your teeth. Smoking and shisha are both associated with gum disease and will impede healing. In a city where shisha is such a common form of social relaxation, it’s worth mentioning to your dentist if you smoke.

At Magnum Dental Clinic in JLT, a gum assessment is part of the veneer planning so any issues can be dealt with prior to the teeth being prepared.

Looking after gums around veneer teeth

Veneers themselves don’t decay; the tooth and gums around them can. The margin near the gum line is where plaque will accumulate. These are the daily habits that help:

• Brush along the gum line at a gentle angle (no scrubbing).
• Floss or use interdental brushes every day, sliding carefully past the veneer edges
• Use a non-abrasive toothpaste to protect the polish on the porcelain.
• Keep up your routine check-ups and cleanings so that any early gum changes are picked up.
• Indicate any bleeding, tenderness or any change in the appearance of your gums.

Conclusion

Veneer teeth look most natural when they’re set against healthy, stable gums with a good, even outline. That’s why the dentist will always check the gums prior to planning veneers, will treat any gum disease or inflammation first and may in fact recommend gum contouring if the gum line is irregular. Once the gums have been treated, the margins will be kept healthy with gentle brushing, daily cleaning between the teeth and regular check-ups. Gum care is part of veneer care.

Contact Us

If you’re looking at veneers and want your gums checked as part of that process, you can book in for that assessment at our JLT branch.

Name: Magnum Dental Clinic – JLT

Address: Shop No. 2, Indigo Tower, Cluster D, Al Thanyah Fifth, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 54 452 2332