Are you all for an easy life?
There’s no denying tooth veneers in London are a fast and effective way to achieve a flawless smile. But just how much effort does it take to keep veneers looking their best?
Do they need a special care routine? Are more visits to the dentist necessary? Will you have to change what you eat?
If worries about maintaining your veneers are stopping you from taking the plunge, let us reassure you right now – looking after veneers is easy!
To show you just how straightforward aftercare is, here we highlight the simple dos and don’ts of dental veneers.
What are veneers?
First things first, let’s establish exactly what veneers are.
Porcelain veneers are a wafer-thin ceramic shell fitted to the front surface of a tooth to hide imperfections. From closing gaps and hiding stains to covering cracks, they’re used to effectively cover over problems.
There are several options on the market, including popular composite veneers, but regardless of which type of dental veneer you go for, the care routine will be much the same.
How long do veneers last?
There’s no escaping the fact that veneers cost a substantial amount of money. Porcelain veneer prices start from around £895 per tooth – so it’s understandable to want them to last for as long as possible.
Despite their seemingly delicate appearance, veneers are actually pretty durable and with the right care can look great for many years.
Here at The Smile Clinic, we’re so confident in the quality of our veneers that we offer a 5-year guarantee as standard… but we’d be disappointed if they didn’t last for much longer than that (15 years or more). We also offer comprehensive veneers aftercare to ensure you’ll get the best out of your veneers.
The dos and don’ts of looking after porcelain veneers
The better care you take of your veneers, the longer you can expect them to last. So, if you’re going to get the best value for your money, what do you need to do?
Do
– Brush at least twice a day
Making sure you brush your teeth as least twice a day – ideally first thing in the morning and just before bed – is essential to maintain the condition of veneers.
This is the standard recommendation – whether you have veneers or not – so if you’re already looking after your teeth and gums properly, this won’t be any different or demand any more of your time.
– Floss
This is one that often gets missed as people mistakenly think they shouldn’t floss with veneers for fear of causing damage.
Not true. Just as with any regular oral care routine, flossing is highly recommended to remove plaque and any traces of food caught between teeth.
– Continue to eat a normal diet
Don’t stress that you’re going to have to curb your love of curries or red wine if you have veneers fitted. Thanks to the non-porous surface of porcelain veneers, stains aren’t a problem. And if you’re concerned biting into an apple could cause problems, there’s no panic about that either. Stick to a balanced healthy diet and there shouldn’t be a problem.
– Wear a mouth guard for sport
It tends to be the two extremes with people who have veneers fitted – either they over-panic that the veneers are super fragile and or they think they act as a shield. Neither is true. Yes, they can offer a little more protection to the tooth below, but it’s still highly recommended to wear a shield for any contact or ball sports – rugby, cricket, etc. – to ensure your smile is properly protected.
– Attend a check-up with your cosmetic dentist
Sticking to routine appointments with your regular dentist is important but be sure to also book in with your cosmetic dentist too. An annual check-up to assess the condition of your veneers will help to stay on top of their care and spot any potential problems early.
Don’t
– Use your mouth as a tool
Using veneered teeth as a tool is a sure-fire way to chip the porcelain.
Opening bottles, ripping tape or tearing into parcels, veneers or not, is a terrible habit for teeth.
– Skip dentist appointments
Don’t think that just because your ‘natural’ tooth is covered you no longer need to attend dental appointments – you do!
There’s no need for extra visits, but you should stick to your regular checks to ensure your oral health stays on track.
– Overindulge in sugar
Okay, so you should be able to enjoy your normal diet with veneers, but it is important not to overdo things on the sugar front if your veneers are going to last as long as possible.
– Ignore signs of teeth grinding
If you think you might grind your teeth at night, it’s worth getting things checked out as soon as possible, or you risk causing damage to your veneers.
If a dentist confirms your suspicions, you will most likely be fitted with a mouth guard. This must be worn at night while sleeping to protect both your veneers and any natural teeth.
Talk to our dental veneer experts
Taking good care of veneers is no more difficult, or time-consuming, than looking after regular teeth. So don’t let concerns over high maintenance hold you back.
If you’d like to know more about getting veneers in London, or to talk in more detail, why not get in touch with our friendly team of experts?
You’re just one click away from a more beautiful smile – now if that’s not easy, we don’t know what it?!