My veneer fell off – what should I do?

First steps matter: rinse the veneer gently and store it in a small box, even if it looks cracked. Never use superglue or any household adhesive; it can harm the tooth and gum and makes proper re-bonding harder. The exposed tooth may be sensitive to cold, so avoid very cold food and keep brushing gently. If there is severe pain or part of the tooth has broken, see a nearby dentist.

Why do veneers come off? Common reasons are biting something hard with the front teeth, night-time grinding without a guard, decay under the edge, or a bonding or bite problem. Finding the cause matters more than the re-bonding itself, because repeated debonding signals something unaddressed. Dr. Khalid checks the tooth, the veneer and the bite before deciding between re-bonding, a new veneer or a design change.

Living abroad? Send photos of the tooth and the veneer on WhatsApp to Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok. Depending on the case you may be advised to see a local dentist for re-bonding, or to wait for your next visit if that is safe. Patients in the UAE can be seen at Creative Arts in Jumeirah, Dubai, where Dr. Khalid works and the lab is in the same building. See also follow-up after returning home.

Preventing it again: do not bite hard objects with front teeth or open packets with your teeth, wear your night guard if you grind, and attend check-ups roughly every six months. More in our veneers aftercare guide; if old veneers keep failing, read about replacing old veneers.

• Keep the veneer in a clean box
• No superglue or home adhesive
• Avoid chewing and cold on the exposed tooth
• Photograph tooth and veneer and send on WhatsApp
• Fix the cause, not just the bond