Veneers for Worn-Down Teeth: Restoring Length and Bite

Why teeth shorten

• Nighttime grinding (bruxism): 0.3–0.5 mm per decade in heavy grinders
• Acid erosion: sparkling water, wine, reflux, citrus
• Age: natural wear over many years
• Bulimia or acid reflux: severe erosion on inner surfaces

Why you can't just veneer over the wear

If the cause isn't addressed first, new veneers will fracture within 1–3 years. Order of operations:

1. Diagnose the cause
2. Treat the cause (nightguard, reflux treatment, acid diet changes)
3. Stabilise the bite over 4–8 weeks
4. Restore the worn teeth with veneers, crowns, or onlays

Treatment complexity

Worn teeth often need a full-mouth or significant-scope rehabilitation:

• Lower front teeth often need crowns, not just veneers (less enamel left)
• The bite needs raising gradually (can't add length without raising the bite)
• Back teeth may need onlays to match the new bite

Cost in Dubai

A full-mouth rehabilitation for wear typically costs AED 50,000–180,000 depending on tooth count and materials.

Nightguard — absolutely mandatory

Any patient with wear-related veneers needs a custom nightguard for life. Without it, the new veneers will wear down again.

Practical decision guide

Cosmetic dentistry is strongest when the smile plan starts with healthy teeth and gums, not with a material choice. Before committing to a visible change, confirm the diagnosis, preview the result on your own face, and understand what tooth structure will or will not be removed.

Check this first

• Gum health, cavities, bite forces, grinding history, and old restorations.
• Whether whitening, bonding, alignment, veneers, or crowns is the least-invasive option that meets the goal.
• How the proposed shade and tooth shape will look in daylight, photos, and normal conversation.

When to book sooner

• The tooth is chipped, dark after trauma, sensitive, mobile, or changing colour quickly.
• You are being offered irreversible treatment without x-rays, gum screening, photos, or a trial smile.
• You grind at night and no nightguard or bite plan is included.

Topic-specific notes

• For cosmetic work, the most protective sequence is health check, photos, smile preview, trial or mock-up where appropriate, then final treatment. Irreversible tooth preparation should not be the first step in the conversation.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• Can I see a digital preview or trial smile before irreversible preparation?
• How much enamel will be removed, and is there a lower-prep alternative?
• What happens if the restoration chips, stains, or needs replacement later?

Dubai patient note

For Dubai cosmetic treatment, ask for a written plan that separates consultation, scans, mock-up, treatment, nightguard, warranty terms, and maintenance visits. If a clinician or facility is unfamiliar, verify licensing through DHA before starting.

References

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
• Journal of Periodontology