Porcelain veneers are a great way to transform a dull smile into a smile that dazzles. Before your veneers can be placed on your teeth however, your dentist needs to take impressions of your teeth so that their ceramist can get started on creating your permanent veneers. Because it generally takes around 1-2 weeks for your permanent veneers to be ready, you'll need to wear temporaries for a short while.
One of the great things about temporary veneers is that they allow patients to get used to having veneers on their teeth. However, temporary veneers are nothing compared to the real thing. They tend not to be exact replicas of your final veneers both in shape and size, and during your time wearing them you may be horrified to find that they fall off every now and then.
Don't panic. There is a good reason for this.
Temporary Veneers Should be Easy to Remove
The first thing to keep in mind is that dentists do not bond temporary veneers to your teeth. They use a temporary cement that allows them to easily remove the veneers once your permanent veneers are ready to be placed. Because of that, your temporary veneers may not stay on your teeth for the 1-2 weeks it takes to complete your permanent veneers.
Your permanent veneers will be bonded to your teeth with composite resin and so will not fall off as easily as your temps.
You Can Re-Cement Your Veneers
It really isn't a huge issue if you go a few days without a temporary veneer on a prepared tooth. As long as you practice excellent oral hygiene, your tooth should be fine. However, if appearance is a concern of yours, you can purchase some denture adhesive from a local pharmacy and use that to glue the veneer back on.
While denture adhesive is designed for dentures, it will allow you to replace a veneer temporarily so that your smile is not affected. Under no circumstances should you use superglue or any other type of strong adhesive as this will make it more difficult for your dentist to remove the veneer.
Flossing Will Be Difficult
Temporary veneers are often bulkier than permanent veneers and so leave very little space between teeth for flossing. It might be a good idea to refrain from flossing your teeth in the areas where the veneers are located otherwise you may end up dislodging them. Likewise, you should avoid hard and sticky foods until you get your permanent veneers.
If your temporary veneers keep popping off, don't worry, your permanent veneers will not suffer the same fate. Have a dentist re-cement your temporary veneers if they continue to fall off despite your best efforts.
