Want a dental solution that can give you a whiter and straighter smile that will last? Your dentist will likely suggest porcelain veneers. These custom-made shells attach to the front of the teeth to build a smile that looks brighter and fuller according to your unique aesthetic goals.
Once you receive this smile enhancement treatment, you will want it to endure as long as possible. To get the most out of your veneers, you will need to practice proper maintenance for your smile and your new fixtures. Read on to find three tips from your Louisville, KY dentist on how to take care of your new porcelain veneers.
Aftercare Advice for Porcelain Veneers
Pay Attention to Your Smile
Your dentist constructs porcelain veneers on an individualized basis for each of their patients. This means you can count on these fixtures looking gorgeous as well as natural when placed in your smile. This also ensures a comfortable and secure fit over the teeth.
The veneers stay in place with dental bonding material, and once there, they will remain for fifteen years or longer. Before you leave the office, the dentist checks your bite to make sure the new fixtures do not interfere with your oral function.
It may take some time to get used to the way porcelain veneers feel on your smile. However, if you notice the veneers seem loose or ill-fitting, call your dentist as soon as you can. They could be more likely to dislodge or break if they are not secured properly.
Avoid Biting Hard Items
Dentists design porcelain veneers to endure the everyday wear and tear that your teeth experience with daily chewing and biting. But while durable, veneers might crack, break, or fall off if exposed to high levels of pressure.
For this reason, try not to bite down on abnormally hard items, like fingernails, ice, or the end of a pen. These could damage your veneers, which will put your underlying teeth in danger of dental harm. If you do sustain damage to these fixtures, call your dentist right away to receive emergency repair or replacement.
Continue Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits
Many patients appreciate that porcelain veneers will resist staining as well as decay. However, if you want your veneers to last for as long as possible, you will still need to practice healthy habits like good oral hygiene.
Veneers will gather plaque like your teeth will, and this film can spread and hurt your smile if it remains. Remove plaque and other harmful residues promptly with proper oral hygiene. This entails brushing teeth at least twice per day and flossing daily.
You will also need to visit your dentist for routine teeth cleaning appointments. This way, your dentist can remove plaque and tartar that your toothbrush cannot reach. Preventative care like this will curb your risk for dental emergencies that could affect the fit of your veneers. Then the veneers can continue giving you smile enhancement for a longer period.