CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Veneer replacement in Jacksonville, FL.
First we find out why the old ones didn’t work.
If your veneers, crowns, or bonding from another office look bulky, too white, or fake, or they keep chipping, we can redo them at our San Marco office. Dr. Henley starts by figuring out why the first set failed, shows you a preview before any tooth is touched, and has the new porcelain handmade by a local ceramist.
- 89%estimated survival of ceramic veneers at a median of 9 years in a pooled review1
- 7.7×higher veneer failure risk with grinding or clenching in a 20-year study3
- ~10×more failures when veneers were bonded mostly to dentin instead of enamel4
- 1 dentistDr. Henley does the diagnosis, design, preparation, and delivery himself
Top-rated on Google: 4.9 stars from more than 225 patient reviews.
Bad veneers: what to look for
Signs your veneers may need replacing.
Veneers usually need replacing when the porcelain is cracked or broken, decay has started under the edge, the gums around them stay red and bleed, or they look so bulky or opaque that you hide your smile. Light surface stain or a tiny chip can often be polished or repaired instead.
Most people who come to us about a redo already know something is off, even if they can’t say exactly what.
Problems that usually mean replacement
- Cracks or fractures. A crack through the porcelain rarely stays put. Fracture and chipping are the most common complication reported for ceramic veneers.1
- Decay at the edges. A dark line that catches an explorer, or decay seen on an X-ray, means the seal has broken down.
- A veneer that keeps coming loose. One debond can be a fluke. Repeat debonds usually point to a bonding surface or bite problem.
- Gums that never calm down. Puffy, purplish, bleeding gums right along the veneers, even with good brushing and flossing.
- Bulk and opacity. Teeth that look thick, flat white, or stick out past the lip, often with a shelf you can feel with your tongue.
- A bite that feels wrong. Speech changes, new clicking or soreness, or a sense that your front teeth hit first.
Problems that often don’t
- Surface stain. Porcelain itself resists stain, so a dull or tea-colored look is often on the surface and polishes off.
- Light stain right at the edge. Shallow margin staining can sometimes be polished or touched up with composite.
- A small chip. One away from the margin can sometimes be smoothed or repaired with bonding.
You don’t need to decide on your own which group you’re in. That’s what the exam is for.
Why veneers look fake or fail
Why veneers fail or look fake.
Veneers usually fail for a reason you can name: they were made too thick, too opaque, or too white; the tooth preparation went into dentin; the margins sit badly against the gums; or grinding and bite forces were never addressed. Replacing them without fixing that reason can lead to the same problem again.
Overcontouring
When porcelain is added to teeth that weren’t prepared enough, they end up too thick. They push the lip out, trap plaque at the gumline, and lose the natural curves that catch light.
Opacity and color
Natural teeth are translucent at the edges and warmer near the gums. Veneers in one flat, bright shade, or with a heavy opaque layer, look artificial even when they fit well.
Preparation design
Veneers bond best to enamel, and long-term survival is highest when they are bonded to it.2 In one 12-year study, veneers bonded mostly to dentin, or with margins in dentin, were about 10 times more likely to fail than those bonded to enamel.4 Too little preparation causes bulk; too much exposes dentin.
Material choice
Some materials look too dull or too glassy in person, or don’t suit the bite. The right choice depends on the color underneath, the room available, and how hard you bite.
Grinding and bite forces
In a study of veneers followed for up to 20 years, people who ground or clenched had a 7.7 times higher risk of failure, and most failures were fractures.3 If grinding isn’t managed, new veneers are under the same stress as the old ones.
Gum health and margins
Edges that sit too far under the gum, that are rough, or that leave a ledge make it hard to keep the area clean. A long-term study found restorations placed below the gumline were linked to more gum inflammation and attachment loss.5
Fix bad veneers: repair or replace
Repair, polish, or replace?
Not every problem calls for new veneers. Surface stain, minor chips, and rough spots can often be polished or repaired with composite. Cracks, decay under the veneer, repeat debonding, chronic gum inflammation, and veneers that are simply the wrong shape or color usually mean replacement.
| Problem | Often enough | Usually needs replacing when |
|---|---|---|
| Surface stain or dullness | Professional polish | The color is in the porcelain itself and you don’t like it |
| Stained edge line | Polish, or a small composite touch-up | There is decay or a gap under the edge |
| Small chip | Smoothing or a bonded repair | The chip is large, near the margin, or keeps recurring |
| Crack | Watching it if it’s a surface craze line | The crack goes through the porcelain |
| Veneer came off | Rebonding if the veneer and tooth are intact | It keeps coming off or the veneer is damaged |
| Red, bleeding gums | Cleaning and home care changes first | The edges are bulky or too deep and the gums don’t settle |
| Bulky, opaque, fake look | Rarely fixable by adjustment | Shape, thickness, or color is the problem |
| Old bonding that’s stained or chipped | Polishing or resurfacing with new composite | You want a bigger change in shape or color |
Redo veneers in Jacksonville
What a veneer redo involves.
A veneer redo at our office starts with a diagnosis of why the first veneers failed. Then you see a preview of the new shape on your own teeth, the old veneers are removed, and new layered e.max veneers handmade by our ceramist are bonded. If you grind, a night guard follows.
Find the reason first
Dr. Henley examines the veneers, your gums, and your bite. He takes X-rays when needed, measures gum pockets, photographs your smile, and asks what bothers you. Sometimes the answer is gum treatment or bite work before any porcelain is replaced.
Preview the new smile
Before anything is removed, you see a mock-up of the planned shape and length on your own teeth. Changes are easy at this stage.
Remove and prepare
The old veneers and cement are carefully removed, the teeth are checked and refined, and records go to the lab so the new veneers follow the approved preview.
New porcelain, made by hand
Every veneer is handmade by Paul Robert, a local ceramist at Dynamic Dental Solutions, in layered e.max porcelain. Dr. Henley and Paul work from the photos and the preview, not a stock shade tab.
Try-in and bonding
You see the veneers in your mouth before they are bonded. Dr. Henley checks color, shape, the edges along the gums, and your bite, then bonds them.
Protect them
If you grind or clench, you’ll get a custom night guard. See our page on tooth grinding and bruxism. Regular checkups and cleanings let us catch small problems early.
Replace old veneers safely
Can removing veneers damage my teeth?
It can, and it’s fair to know that up front. Old veneers are usually ground away along with the cement, and it’s hard to separate bonded porcelain from tooth perfectly. Most teeth do fine, but some lose a little more structure, and a few end up needing a crown instead of a veneer.
Bonded porcelain is meant to become one piece with the tooth. That’s what makes it last, and also what makes removal slow, careful work.
What can happen
- Some loss of tooth structure. It can be minimal, but it isn’t zero. Teeth that were already cut deeply the first time have less to spare.
- Sensitivity. Teeth can be sensitive for a while after removal and new preparation. This usually settles.
- Nerve problems. Any tooth that has been prepared more than once carries some added risk that the nerve becomes inflamed and needs treatment. It’s uncommon, but it happens.
- A change of plan. If the tooth underneath has decay, cracks, or not much enamel left, a crown may be the better choice. We’ll tell you if that comes up.
This is one reason we spend time on diagnosis. Removing veneers that only needed a polish is a bad trade.
Veneer replacement timeline and cost
How long a redo takes, and what affects cost.
Most veneer redos take about three visits over about a month: a planning and preview visit, a removal and preparation visit, and a bonding visit. If your gums or bite need treatment first, it takes longer. Cost depends on the number of teeth and what the diagnosis finds, and you get each fee in writing first.
Typical timeline
About 3 visits over about a month for a straightforward redo. Gum treatment, a bite problem, or a damaged tooth that needs a crown or root canal can add weeks. Healing comes before porcelain.
What affects cost
How many teeth are involved, whether old veneers, crowns, or bonding are being replaced, any gum or bite work first, whether some teeth need crowns, and whether a night guard is needed. We don’t publish fees. You’ll get the fee for each step in writing before treatment starts.
Insurance and payment
We are an out-of-network office. Plans often treat veneers as cosmetic, though decay or a crown may be handled differently. We’ll help you understand your benefits; you’re responsible for what the plan doesn’t pay. Call with your plan details to ask about fees and payment arrangements.
Before you commit
You see the preview and the written fees before any old veneer is removed. If you want time to think it over, take it.
Second opinions on veneers
Getting a second opinion on your veneers.
A second opinion is reasonable whenever you’re unhappy with veneers or unsure whether they need replacing. Bring any records you have. Dr. Henley will look at the work, explain what he sees in plain language, and tell you if he thinks a repair, a polish, or nothing at all is the better choice.
Redos of veneers, crowns, and bonding from other offices make up a meaningful share of the cosmetic consultations we see. Some patients feel awkward about it. You don’t need to. Our job is to look at your teeth, not to grade another dentist.
What helps us help you
- Old records. X-rays, photos from before the veneers, and the lab or material name if you have them.
- What bothers you. Be specific if you can: too white, too long, too thick, feels odd when you talk.
Dr. Henley sees every patient himself, from the first exam to the final bonding. To see the kind of work we do, look through our case studies and before and after photos.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about veneer replacement.
Where can I get veneer replacement in Jacksonville?
Dr. Henley replaces veneers, crowns, and bonding at our office at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Jacksonville. He does the diagnosis, the preview, the preparation, and the bonding himself, and every veneer is handmade by a local ceramist. Call 904.398.1549 or request an appointment to start with a consultation.
How long do porcelain veneers usually last?
Many last well over a decade. A pooled review estimated about 89% of ceramic veneers were still in place at a median of 9 years, and one long-term study reported about 83% at 20 years. How long yours last depends on your bite, grinding, gum health, enamel, and how they were made. Nobody can promise a specific number of years.
Why do my veneers look fake?
The usual reasons are too much thickness, a single flat white shade with no translucency, edges that are too straight or too even, and teeth that are too long or wide for your face and lips. A preview before the new veneers are made lets you see and approve the shape and length before any tooth is changed.
Can bad veneers be fixed without replacing them?
Sometimes. Surface stain often polishes off, small chips can be smoothed or repaired with composite, and a veneer that came off cleanly can sometimes be rebonded. If the problem is shape, thickness, color inside the porcelain, decay, or a crack, replacement is usually the honest answer.
Will my teeth be smaller or weaker after old veneers come off?
Removing bonded porcelain usually costs a little tooth structure, and teeth that were prepared deeply the first time have less to spare. Most can take a new veneer. Some are better served by a crown. Dr. Henley will tell you what he sees once the old veneers are off.
Do I have to replace all my veneers if only one is bad?
Not always. A single veneer can be replaced, but matching one new veneer to older ones next to it is hard, especially on front teeth. If the others are healthy and you like how they look, replacing one may be fine. We’ll talk through how close a match is realistic.
Can you redo crowns and bonding done somewhere else?
Yes. The same approach applies. We look for why the original work isn’t working, whether it’s fit, bite, gum health, or material. Bonding redos use Filtek Supreme composite and a Bioclear matrix. Learn more on our dental bonding and crowns and bridges pages.
Is the redo process painful?
The teeth are numbed for removal and preparation, so most people mainly feel pressure and vibration. Some sensitivity afterward is common. If you’re anxious, we offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation. See sedation dentistry.
Will you guarantee the new veneers?
No dentist can honestly guarantee how long porcelain will last, because so much depends on bite, habits, and home care. What we can do is find the reason the first veneers failed, show you the plan before we start, and give you the fee for each step in writing.
Your next step
Talk with Dr. Henley about your veneers.
If you’re unhappy with veneers, crowns, or bonding done elsewhere, start with a consultation at our San Marco office. Dr. Henley will explain what he finds and whether a repair, a polish, or a redo makes sense.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Prefer a nonurgent text? 904.762.5616 is our practice on-call and text line. Please don’t send sensitive health information by text, and call for anything urgent.
Related pages
Sources
- Morimoto S, Albanesi RB, Sesma N, Agra CM, Braga MM. Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and complication rates. Int J Prosthodont. 2016;29(1):38-49.
- Layton DM, Clarke M, Walton TR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the survival of feldspathic porcelain veneers over 5 and 10 years. Int J Prosthodont. 2012;25(6):590-603.
- Beier US, Kapferer I, Burtscher D, Dumfahrt H. Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years. Int J Prosthodont. 2012;25(1):79-85.
- Gurel G, Sesma N, Calamita MA, Coachman C, Morimoto S. Influence of enamel preservation on failure rates of porcelain laminate veneers. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2013;33(1):31-39.
- Schätzle M, Lang NP, Ånerud A, Boysen H, Bürgin W, Löe H. The influence of margins of restorations of the periodontal tissues over 26 years. J Clin Periodontol. 2001;28(1):57-64.