Baton Rouge Dentist

Why Are My Gums So Puffy Around My Veneers?

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A woman's close-up smile, portraying healthy, not puffy, gums around porcelain veneers
Well-bonded porcelain veneers promote healthy gums

Since I got porcelain veneers in May, my gums have been puffy and tender around them. I had an appointment with my dentist last month, and he told me I probably need to improve my flossing technique. Before he left the treatment room, he said that his hygienist would show me how to floss and watch me as I did it. I have been flossing correctly all along but have not returned to my dental office, although my gums are still irritated. Now, I feel sensitivity in my teeth with veneers, and I am afraid I will need root canals or have gum disease before it’s over. Why are my gums so tender around my veneers? Thank you. Cyan

Cyan,

We’re sorry to hear about your discomfort and challenges after a smile makeover with porcelain veneers.

Why Are Your Gums Puffy Around Your Porcelain Veneers?

When your gums are puffy around your porcelain veneers, excess cement between the veneers and your gums is usually the cause. Many cosmetic dentists follow a process to minimize complications and remove excess bonding composite.

The steps may include:

  • Prime the tooth surface with etching and bonding agents
  • Place the bonding composite in a veneer and press it onto the corresponding tooth
  • Allow excess composite to ooze out the side
  • Remove the excess composite before curing the composite with a high-intensity curing light
  • Use an ultra-small light tip to cure the composite in the center of the tooth, tacking the veneer in place
  • Floss around the teeth to remove any residual composite
  • Smooth the surfaces between all teeth
  • Use a larger light curing tip to ensure the veneer is attached to the tooth
  • Use fine polishing tips to ensure smoothness

Can Puffy Gums Around Veneers Lead to Gum Disease?

Excess cement around porcelain veneers can irritate your gum tissue and lead to the beginning stages of gum disease or gingivitis. If left untreated, gum disease will advance. A tooth infection can result, which will require root canal treatment.

If your dentist thinks your flossing technique is causing puffy gums around your porcelain veneers, we recommend getting a second opinion. Look for a skilled cosmetic dentist and schedule an exam. If your dentist’s bonding techniques are questionable, you can present the findings of the second opinion dentist to the one who placed your porcelain veneers. You can decide if you want your dentist to remove, clean, and re-bond your porcelain veneers or if you want him to refund you or pay for the cost of having another dentist remove, clean, and re-bond the veneers.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

What are the Dangers of Periodontal Disease?

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I’m writing you because my mother has gingivitis and I believe it stems from periodontitis. Over a week ago, she felt extreme tooth pain at the back of her mouth. Twenty-four hours later, she began to suffer from a fever and body aches.

My mother visited her dentist and was told that part of the bone at the back of her mouth has been eaten away. Luckily for her, it was caught early and she didn’t lose her molar. The dentist removed the bacteria, applied oral medicine, prescribed antibiotics, cleaned her mouth and told her to make another appointment for scaling.

Is this is a severe case of periodontitis and has the bone loss been stopped? Also, with the fever and other issues, will this affect her body systems like her heart, etc? I read periodontal disease may cause many health issues. What can be done now?

– Theresa from Louisiana

Theresa,
To answer your question, periodontal disease stems from gingivitis left untreated over a period of time. To educate you a little further, gingivitis happens when the gums bleed easily, become tender, red and swollen. Gingivitis occurs when people lack in their brushing and flossing techniques. If people don’t attend to regular brushing, flossing and cleanings, periodontal disease (gum disease) will happen. Periodontal disease if left untreated, leads to tooth loss.

Your mother’s dentist cleaned around one tooth that was painful but also recommended that your mother get scaling done as well.

Root planing and scaling is recommended to remove debris and bacteria from under the gums on the teeth surfaces in order to prevent the disease from destroying bone around the teeth. Infection must be removed or tooth loss will happen. Without dental x-rays, a clinical exam, and measuring depths of the pockets, it’s a challenge to determine how severe your mother’s periodontal disease is.

If periodontal disease is left untreated, tooth loss may occur and this disease may cause fever as well as affect the heart, diabetes, lung and respiratory system.

We recommend that you speak to your mother’s dentist to determine the severity of the disease and treat it properly to prevent dental and health issues from occurring.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry