Want a straighter, whiter smile? Get effective cosmetic improvement for your teeth with porcelain veneers from your dentist. These shell-like fixtures adhere to the front of your teeth to build a brighter and more even appearance for your smile.
Once you experience these aesthetic benefits, you will want them to endure for as long as possible. With proper care, you can experience long-lasting smile enhancement from veneers. Read on to discover three steps that you can take to make sure you get the most out of your cosmetic dental treatment from porcelain veneers.
Dental Veneers Aftercare Tips
Pay Attention to the Fit of Veneers
Your dentist constructs porcelain veneers on a personalized basis for each of their patients. They consider their aesthetic goals as well as the size and shape of the natural teeth and the mouth.
This ensures a beautiful finish for these dental fixtures. But it also allows the veneers to feel comfortable as well as secure in the mouth once secured in place with bonding.
The dentist will check the patient’s bite before they leave the office after this procedure, ensuring the new fixtures do not disrupt their oral function. If the veneers feel loose or misaligned, let your dentist know. Ill-fitting veneers could be at risk of dislodging or cracking.
Do Not Exert High Pressure on Your Teeth
Dentists design porcelain veneers to easily withstand the everyday wear and tear that your teeth experience from chewing and biting. But abnormally high pressures from biting down on hard items could cause veneers to fall off or break.
For this reason, you should not bite fingernails, the end of a pen, or ice. You should also tell your dentist if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. This habit can generate pressure on your dental work too and risk damage.
If you sustain damage to your veneers, contact your dentist for urgent repairs or replacements. Broken veneers may put your underlying teeth at risk of further harm.
Continue Good Oral Hygiene Practices
Many dental patients appreciate that porcelain veneers will not stain or decay. However, you should still practice good oral hygiene regularly to remove plaque in a timely fashion. Plaque will accumulate on your veneers and spread to the rest of your smile without thorough teeth brushing and flossing.
Plaque can eat away at your teeth and leave them vulnerable to dental dangers like cavities. Your veneers will perform best with a strong and stable foundation from your underlying teeth.
So make sure you floss every day and brush your teeth twice per day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scratching your veneers. Ask your dentist before using a mouthwash or other hygienic product as they might hurt your dental work.
Good oral hygiene will also include visiting your dentist for routine teeth cleanings. They will scrape plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth in tough-to-reach spots in the mouth.