Is my daughter a porcelain veneers candidate?

Hello,

I’m trying to figure out if my daughter is a porcelain veneers candidate. She is nine years old and fell on the playground at school. Most of the front tooth is chipped. In fact, there is only about half of the tooth remaining. It is a permanent tooth, so she is mortified. You know how cruel kids can be!

Would a porcelain veneer work for her or possibly a porcelain crown for a front tooth? I’m looking online because our regular dentist doesn’t think either would be a good option. He said that since she’s only nine, she isn’t a candidate for porcelain veneers.

-Carol in Texas

Carol,

First, we are sorry to hear about your daughter’s accident. It is understandable that you are concerned about the aesthetics of her tooth.

Cosmetic Dentistry for a Front Tooth

For a child with a damaged permanent tooth, the dentist usually checks the nerve of the tooth first and foremost. If there is nerve damage, it will need to be treated as soon as possible. Trauma to a tooth can damage the underlying nerve and cause the tooth to die. This may not happen right away, so please go back in right away if she complains of throbbing pain or if the tooth discolors.

Once the nerve damage is ruled out, then the aesthetics of the tooth can be addressed with a reputable cosmetic dentist. Every dentist has different opinions, but it would be wise to see an excellent cosmetic dentist in your area that has experience working on front teeth. Although, you are interested in a crown or porcelain veneer, it may not be an option. Since your daughter’s tooth is still developing and her jaw and bones are growing. This impacts the stress on chewing and her overall bite patterns.

Dental bonding on a front tooth may work well to address the immediate aesthetic concerns. It may need to be touched up periodically. But, it will look natural and beautiful if it is done by an expert cosmetic dentist. Then, down the road, when your child is done growing, you may be able to consider other cosmetic dentistry options. A porcelain veneer or crown makes more sense in the future.

Thank you for your question and good luck!

This post is sponsored by Lexington cosmetic dentist Hamburg Expressions.