Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that features cap-like shells which secure over the front of your teeth. These fixtures enhance your teeth’s appearance, giving you a whiter, straighter smile.
This is considered a permanent cosmetic treatment, with effects lasting up to fifteen years with proper care and maintenance. Dr. Lynn Morgan, a dentist in Severna Park, MD, describes how you can take care of your porcelain veneers to ensure long-lasting cosmetic benefits.
Avoid Abnormal Pressure
Porcelain veneers are designed to endure the wear and tear your teeth experience on a daily basis. However, veneers are subject to breakage if exposed to abnormal amounts of pressure.
For this reason, you should avoid biting down on hard objects, such as ice, fingernails, or the end of a pen. Staying aware of oral habits like this can preserve your veneers as well as your oral health.
Teeth grinding or clenching can also harm porcelain veneers. This habit can occur unconsciously, including during sleep. If you grind your teeth at night, you should let your dentist know as this could affect your cosmetic dental treatment plan.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
To ensure you are getting the most out of your porcelain veneers, you should make sure your natural teeth and gums are healthy and maintaining a stable foundation for these fixtures. The best way to do this is to practice good oral hygiene.
A proper oral hygiene routine includes brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. This removes plaque from your teeth that forms from bacteria in your mouth throughout your day.
If left alone, plaque can cause tooth decay or gum disease. While veneers cannot suffer damage from decay, the deterioration of surrounding teeth can harm porcelain veneers in the long run.
Visit Dentist Regularly
A major part of your oral hygiene regimen should be regular visits with your dentist. Dentists recommended scheduling routine dental cleanings every six months.
During these appointments, dentists clean plaque and tartar from spots in your mouth missed with traditional brushing, including near the gumline. These cleanings are important to preventing decay and gum disease.
Your dentist can also evaluate your porcelain veneers to make sure they are still securely in place over your teeth. These appointments are also prime opportunities to ask your dentist about any concerns about your oral health.
Porcelain Veneers and Cosmetic Dentistry in Severna Park, MD
Dr. Morgan provides porcelain veneers and other cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Severna Park, MD. Our practice also specializes in restorative and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 410.415.9015.