Would I be a Suitable Candidate for Dental Veneers?


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While it is down to the individual to find out if dental veneering is the right process for them, there are some cases where the candidate is less suitable. This is not to say that if you fall into any of the following categories you should not get dental veneers, just that it is important to discuss with your dentists the risks and make sure you have sufficient aftercare if you are more prone to problems. If you suffer from any of the following dental veneers may not be the best option for you.

Weak/Unhealthy Teeth

Teeth can become weak or unhealthy for a number of reasons. The most obvious is poor oral hygiene but diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis can cause gum inflammation or decay and even tooth loss. If you suffer with weak teeth the veneers may not be able to be properly attached.


Weak or unhealthy teeth could also mean that the enamel on your teeth is already damaged. Patients with an already thin layer of tooth enamel may not be suitable for dental veneers. This is because the enamel needs to be shaved off to make space for the veneers, but if already thin this could leave too little enamel to protect the nerve at the centre of the tooth.

Teeth Grinders or Teeth Clenchers

The term for issues where you force contact between your teeth is bruxisms. People with bruxisms may be fine during the procedure and the veneers may be attached correctly but afterwards they are much more likely to have problems maintaining the veneers. Repeated grinding or clenching of the teeth can chip or even break the porcelain veneers, which is particularly problematic because veneers cannot usually be repaired. If you broke your veneer you would need to have the whole thing removed and replaced, at the same price as the original veneer.

Severely Misaligned Bite

A misaligned bite means that when you bring your top teeth and bottom teeth together they will not meet in a line. It is quite normal to have a slight over-bite (where the top teeth are further forward) but if you have a large overbite or under-bite (where bottom teeth are further forward) you can be putting pressure on the veneers whenever you close your mouth. Repeated pressure pushing the veneers outwards can actually cause veneers to fall off if they have been improperly bonded. This can be an expensive mistake to correct. Some dentists might suggest that you have orthodontic/occlusion treatment first to correct your bite before they can properly fit veneers.

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