By Dr. Aastha Chandra

|

09 Dec 2022

POST CARE OF DENTAL VENEERS

When you receive veneers, you are making an investment in your mouth.  Please take the following steps to ensure that your veneers will last you for years to come.

1)Practice proper oral hygiene- oral hygiene practices like brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing regularly prolongs the life of the veneers and keeps them looking flawless. Newer technologies like water flossers and electronic toothbrushes also aid in increasing their lifespan and the general health of your gums and teeth.

2)Use a soft toothbrush and a proper toothpaste – hard bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with harsh abrasives can cause the polish of the veneers to get damaged. Instead you can use soft or medium bristled toothbrushes or better still electronic toothbrushes. Brush in soft circular motions rather that strong horizontal strokes in order to prevent wear and tear of these veneers.

3)Prevent gum disease – gum disease causes inflammation of the gums and causes them to recede, thus exposing part of the veneer which impacts their overall look. Getting your regular dental clean ups ensures that your gums remain healthy .

4)Avoid biting hard objects – chewing on hard objects like nuts, ice or biting into an apple, corn etc can cause the veneers to chip. Eventhough the strength of the veneers increases exponentially once they are bonded and such cases are very rare, it is best to avoid strong forces on your front teeth.

5)Avoid clenching your teeth – Along with more severe problems such as pain and wear of your joints, this also has the ability to wear down the veneers and damage the porcelain. Please do request your dentist to make a nightguard in order to protect damage due to clenching.

6)Avoid opening packets with your teeth- Many people have a habit of using their front teeth to open packets. This can cause damage even to your natural teeth and in case of veneers, could lead to their chipping or debonding.

7)Get a professional dental check up done atleast twice a year- This is required in order to monitor the health of your gums and the remaining teeth and also to stay abreast with the condition of the veneers.

Dental veneers as at treatment modality do not require much additional care. The final outcome far outweighs any additional effort that goes into maintaining them . But if the above few points are kept in mind, you can be rest assured that you will enjoy this new beautiful smile for decades to come.