Looking for a durable and highly effective smile enhancement treatment from your dentist? Ask your dentist about porcelain veneers. These cap-like shells secure to the front of your teeth to build a whiter and straighter smile you can feel proud of.
Once you experience these cosmetic dental benefits, you will want to ensure the effects last as long as they can. This means you will need to take care of these dental fixtures. Read on to find three tips from your dentist that will help you get the most out of your porcelain veneers.
How to Maintain Porcelain Veneers
Watch Out for Bite Problems
Dentists construct porcelain veneers on an individualized basis for each patient. They consider the size and shape of the mouth as well as the patient’s smile aesthetic goals. Then they make the dental fixtures in their lab accordingly.
Once the dentist attaches the veneers to the teeth, they check the patient’s bite to make sure their mouth can close properly and without disruption. This will ensure that you can perform oral functions without hindrance from the veneers.
If the veneers feel loose or misaligned once you leave the office, let your dentist know. Ill-fitting veneers could dislodge or break, requiring lengthy and costly repairs or replacements.
Avoid Biting Hard Objects
Porcelain veneers are designed to withstand the everyday wear and tear of chewing and biting like your regular teeth. However, these fixtures are not indestructible. When exposed to high amounts of pressure, veneers may crack or fall off of the teeth.
For this reason, you should not bite down on hard-textured items like fingernails, the end of a pen, or ice. Habits like grinding and clenching teeth will also generate pressure that can hurt your veneers.
Tell your dentist if you have a teeth-grinding habit before you receive veneers. They can offer advice to treat this behavior and offer preventative care appliances like night guards to protect your teeth and dental work.
Continue Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits
One of the appeals of smile enhancement with porcelain veneers is that the fixtures will resist both staining and decay. However, your underlying teeth will still be at risk of dental dangers like plaque and bacteria.
Your cosmetic dental work relies on the stable foundation of your healthy teeth. So you should continue to practice good oral hygiene to keep your smile clean and free from dental concerns.
This will entail flossing on a daily basis and brushing your teeth twice each day. Visit your dentist for routine teeth cleaning appointments too. These should be scheduled approximately every six months.
Your dentist removes plaque and tartar build-up that a toothbrush cannot reach during these crucial visits. They will also examine your smile and search for early signs of dental problems. Then they can provide swift treatment so that your teeth and your veneers can continue looking and feeling their best. With proper care and maintenance, porcelain veneers can remain on your teeth for fifteen years.