San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Veneers are probably one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments. You can literally achieve the most perfect smile with porcelain veneers in San Francisco. But, veneers are certainly an investment that you want to protect and take care of to preserve your results. While veneers are durable enough to withstand normal biting and chewing, they are not indestructible. With that being said, there are certain things you should do in caring for your veneers so that they will last for years. Bay Area cosmetic dentists at Glen Park Dental share tips on how to take care of your veneers.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
This is by far the most significant thing you can do to protect your veneers and oral health. Results are only going to last if you take exceptional care of your teeth. If you fail to take care of your teeth, tooth decay or gum disease may develop and compromise your underlying tooth structure if not caught and treated in time. For this reason, ADA advises that we brush our teeth two times a day. Ideally, after each meal and floss daily. Flossing is equivalent to brushing between your teeth. So if you are skipping this important step, you’re only putting forth partial effort to maintain your oral health. Furthermore, be sure to see your family dentists in the Bay Area at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
Avoid Chewing Hard Objects
Hard objects such as ice, pens, pencils, fingernails are bad news for veneers. You could easily chip the restoration or break it off your tooth entirely. Technically, you should avoid chewing on these hard objects, even if you don’t have veneers because they could crack or break your teeth. Other things to avoid are hard candies and don’t use your teeth to tear open packages.
Wear a Nightguard
You may not be aware of this habit, but if you have bruxism, you could damage your veneers without knowing it. Bruxism is when you clench and grind your teeth at night while sleep, although many sufferers are unaware that they have it. If you wake up with morning headaches or experience unexplained dental pain, speak with your Bay Area TMJ dentists to see if a nightguard could be beneficial. When worn, a nightguard relieves tension and stress from teeth and jaw joints, protecting against damage. It also absorbs the brunt of the force exerted when you clench and grind your teeth, meaning you damage the nightguard, instead of your teeth.
What to do if you damage veneer
Sometimes, you can have the best intentions, and take excellent care of your teeth yet wind up with a broken or damaged veneer. If this happens, it is important that you schedule a visit with the dentist for an evaluation. In some instances, the veneer may be able to be reseated or bonded onto the tooth. However, if the veneer is broken or chipped, or the underlying tooth structure has changed shape or size, then new veneer may be needed.
Veneers in the Bay Area
If you would like to learn more about veneers or schedule a consultation to find out how many veneers you might need to improve your smile, contact Glen Park Dental by calling (415) 585-1500. We welcome patients of the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland.
