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Question:
I am satisfied with the way my front teeth look (all eight), but within the last 8 years my two front superior teeth have lost enamel only in the back of the tooth. I do not eat lemon and I do not have heartburn problems.
Three years ago I had my two front teeth filed down very little to make them even because one of them chipped a little bit. That solved the problem(temporarily). Now one front tooth has chipped a little bit again (I don't remember if it's the same one or the other one that chipped some years ago). My concern is that they will keep chipping due to the loss of enamel.
I went to 3 dentists and got 3 different responses. The first dentist wanted to do bonding, the second dentist wanted to leave the teeth as they are(even though you can see they are getting thinner and transparent at the bottom edge) and wanted to sell me a night guard for over $600, and the third dentist which is the dentist I trust told me that I could get veneers behind my teeth to provide support and prevent future fractures.
I just wanted to mention that I believe the teeth are becoming fragile because there is an obvious loss of enamel in the back of the teeth and not because of night grinding. Do you believe veneers behind the teeth are a good alternative. There is NO information about veneers placement behind
teeth. And I want to keep my natural teeth unchanged if possible. ...Visitor from TX
Answer:
It doesn't matter whether the veneer is placed in front or back, what counts is the skill of the dentist doing it and the bite of your teeth. If the dentist you are seeing gave you this option I bet he's got some good hands to pull it off.
However, my concern would be that if your enamel is so thin from the inside, he may not be able to properly place the veneer due to the fact that you have to remove 1.5 mm. of tooth structure to fit the veneer, which leaves you with no tooth structure left to put the veneer.
If you have an open bite (your bottom teeth don't bite into the uppers...there's a gap in the bite) you may be ok. If your bite is real tight, the only solution may be a full crown and whether you do it now or later may be the only dilemma.
A bite guard is a great idea, now, and after you place the veneers (to protect against breakage). Also, use some extra fluoride everyday (ACT Fluoride) to help keep your teeth strong. And watch out for habits like biting your fingernails and chewing on other items.
Editorial Staff
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