Veneer Maintenance: Keeping Your Investment Looking Great

Dental veneers offer an outstanding return on your cosmetic dentistry investment. Veneers can address numerous aesthetic issues at once, enabling you to achieve the smile of your dreams in just a few office visits at our location in the Morningside Heights area of Harlem, New York City. 

While today’s veneers are incredibly durable, there are a few steps you can take to make them last as long as possible. It is because the team at BH Dental NY, led by Leslie Azran, DDS, wants you to be absolutely satisfied with your cosmetic treatments, we’re here today to discuss how you can enjoy your veneers for many years to come. 

Why are dental veneers such a popular cosmetic dentistry option?

If you’ve ever admired the seemingly-perfect smile of a celebrity or public figure, it’s probably a great set of dental veneers you’re admiring. Veneers have long been a popular cosmetic treatment in Hollywood and beyond. 

Thanks to advancements in dental technology, veneers are now available to far more people, in cities and towns across the nation. 

One reason why veneers are so popular is the opportunity to correct numerous aesthetic issues at once. Here are some of the concerns that a set of dental veneers can address:

• Gapped teeth
• Uneven length 
• Misshapen teeth
• Discoloration that whitening cannot correct
• Minor misalignment
• Chipped teeth

The ability to achieve a beautiful, healthy, and natural-looking smile is why so many people choose dental veneers. 

Here’s how to protect your veneers from harm

Dental veneers are crafted from a durable type of porcelain. This material is not only strong, but mimics the slight translucence of natural teeth. But there are limits to what stressors dental veneers can take before they are subject to harm. 

These simple precautions can help you enjoy your dental veneers for many years. 

Maintain optimal dental hygiene

The materials that make up your new veneers are not subject to decay, but that doesn’t mean you can let your dental hygiene slide after getting a new set of veneers. Your natural tooth tissue can still develop cavities and infection, which can weaken the connection between your tooth tissue and the veneer material. 

Gum disease can also pose problems. If your gums become inflamed and begin to pull away from your teeth, the edge of your dental veneers can become visible. Even worse, advanced gum disease can weaken the connection between your teeth and bone tissue, leading to tooth loss. 

Be sure to brush and floss daily to remove plaque and bacteria and keep your teeth and gums healthy. 

Avoid placing pressure on your veneers

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain attached to your natural tooth tissue with a special kind of dental cement. While veneers are securely affixed, placing undue pressure on your teeth can weaken that connection and also increase the risk of chipping or cracking your veneers. 

Avoid using your teeth to hold items in place or pry open packaging. Don’t chew on nonfood items like pencils or your fingernails. If you’re planning to eat really hard food items like a candy apple or peanut brittle, consider cutting the food into small enough pieces that you can chew them with your molars, not the teeth treated with veneers. 

Chewing ice is another bad habit that can damage veneers. 

Schedule (and attend) your dental exams

One of the best ways to keep your veneers in great shape and make them last as long as possible is by scheduling your routine dental exams twice a year. During these visits Dr. Azran checks your teeth and gums to look for signs of damage or decay. 

If she detects any signs of concern, Dr. Azran discusses how to improve your dental hygiene and which treatment options best fit your needs. This can help you get in front of issues that can threaten the health of your dental veneers. 

Have more questions about dental veneers? Come in for a visit

If you have additional questions or want to know how to best care for your veneers, we’re happy to sit down with you at BH Dental NY to discuss this or any other cosmetic dental treatment you’re curious about. 

Just give us a quick call to find out about upcoming appointment slots, or visit our online booking page to find a time that works for you.