What to Do When a Veneer Chips

Immediate steps

• If the chip is sharp, cover with sugar-free gum to prevent cheek or tongue cuts
• Save the fractured piece if possible
• Avoid chewing on that tooth
• Book a dentist visit within 48 hours

What the dentist can do

• Small chip: polished and smoothed in 10 minutes, AED 200–400
• Medium chip: composite repair to rebuild the chipped area, AED 400–900
• Large fracture: veneer replacement, AED 2,500–6,000

Why veneers chip

• Biting into ice, pen caps, fingernails
• Nighttime grinding without a guard
• Trauma (fall, sports)
• Edge-to-edge biting habits

Prevention after repair

• Custom nightguard if you grind
• Sports guard for contact sports
• Avoid hard foods on the veneered teeth
• Regular hygiene every 4 months

When a chip is warranty-covered

Most premium clinics cover fracture repairs within the first 5 years if hygiene appointments have been kept and the patient hasn't been biting hard objects. Always check your written warranty.

References

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry