What Happens When You Swallow a Veneer?

If anyone wonders how to get perfect looking teeth quickly, the answer is porcelain veneers. Veneers, or laminates as they are sometimes called, are lightweight facings made by dentists, bonded to the face of natural teeth. Once the veneer bonds to the tooth, it is considered permanent. However, sometimes a veneer pops off and is accidentally swallowed by the person wearing it. It can be quite a dilemma, but not without solutions.

Porcelain Veneer Technique

• Porcelain veneers have seen an increase in their popularity over the last decade. Prior to veneers, the option for cosmetically altering a tooth was a complete crown, which meant sacrificing a considerable amount of the tooth to make room for it. Veneers require only a small amount of tooth reduction because they are placed on only one side of the tooth. Once the tooth reduction for the veneer is completed, impressions are taken and a shade is chosen. A dental laboratory normally makes the veneer, however, some dentists have the capability of making a veneer in-house while the patient waits. Once the veneer is ready, the tooth is acid-etched to roughen it and the veneer is bonded with a special dental epoxy. When veneers pop off, it is mainly due to contamination of the tooth after etching or the epoxy not bonding properly. It can also come off when the wearer uses the teeth with veneers inappropriately, such as biting something to open it or to nip thread.

What Goes In, Must Come Out

• Swallowing a veneer is not much different than accidentally swallowing any other foreign object. Most of the time the veneer will pass through the digestive tract without difficulty and come out with fecal matter within a few days. Because of the size and shape of a veneer, much like the shape of a false fingernail, it may be difficult to see the veneer in the stool. As harsh and unpleasant as it sounds it is necessary to put on rubber gloves and manually sort through the fecal matter to find it, ensuring it has passed.

When What Goes In Does Not Come Out

• Unlike crowns and bridges that are heavier because they contain metal, a veneer is exceptionally lightweight. Although it is unlikely to get caught in the digestive tract, it could take longer than expected to pass. If the patient feels abdominal pain or has problems with bowel movements, he should see a physician. An X-ray may not disclose the location of the veneer, but if the symptoms worsen, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or MRI can be used to establish that the veneer has not perforated the intestine or caused any other complications.

Replacing the Veneer

• Swallowing a veneer is unfortunate in more ways than one. If it is not replaced, the tooth is at risk for decay or breaking due to the amount of enamel removed to accommodate the veneer. Cosmetic procedures are generally not covered by dental insurance and are not cheap. The price for one veneer ranges from $700 to $2,000, a healthy blow to the average person's budget. In some cases, a dentist may reduce the cost for the replacement veneer especially if the veneer has only been in place a short time. Occasionally, depending on the circumstances, the dentist may replace it at no cost. If a patient has to pay out of pocket and has a strong constitution, he can recover the veneer after it passes. If the dentist agrees to it, the veneer can be sterilized and re-bonded to the tooth.