Dental Veneers – Aftercare Tips From Your Local Bedford Dentist

Dental Veneers – Aftercare Tips From Your Local Bedford Dentist

Making the most of new porcelain veneers.

Where visible front teeth have become badly stained or discoloured, or have minor chips or cracks which cannot easily be repaired by other means, dental veneers offer an excellent way for patients to have great looking teeth once again.

Unlike a teeth whitening procedure which “bleaches” the internal parts of the tooth, veneers instead replace a fine layer of enamel from the front surface with a very fine porcelain restoration; essentially masking the problems underneath.

As with all dental restorations, we will monitor your veneers during your regular six monthly check-ups at The Dental Centre Bedford. There are, however, a number of things which you can do to help your veneers stay looking great for a long time.

Brush your teeth

Although porcelain cannot decay as a natural tooth can, brushing veneer restored teeth is still important. In addition to removing any staining materials from the front surface of the veneer, it is very important to maintain the health of the natural tooth to which it is fixed. If your natural tooth starts to decay and a filling is needed, this can change the shape of the tooth, reducing the bonding capabilities and increasing the chances of the veneers becoming detached.

Flossing and hygienist visits

If you don’t already use dental floss, please do start. Adding flossing, or another form of inter-dental cleaning to your daily routine, will greatly increase your chances of avoiding gum disease. Not only can this have unpleasant side effects such as halitosis and bleeding gums, but, if not treated, can lead to degradation of the bone sockets in the jaw which hold your teeth securely in place. In addition to flossing, we also highly recommend hygienist visits if you do not do so already. This is an excellent way of helping to keep both your teeth and gums in a healthy condition.

Watch what you bite

Although dental veneers are attached securely to the front of your teeth using a strong adhesive, they can still become detached. This is relatively rare though and is more likely to occur after a number of years as the adhesive weakens. Additionally, to avoid detachment of your dental veneers, please avoid biting down in a manner that may cause them to ‘pop’ off. For example, avoid biting fingernails or opening packets with your teeth.

In the event that your veneers do become detached, please do not attempt to reattach them yourself. Instead, make an appoint to have them restored correctly by one of your experienced local dentists here at The Dental Centre Bedford.

If you need any information about veneers, or wish to arrange to see one of our dentists or hygienists, please call The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.