A Bristol dentist’s advice on looking after your new veneers

If you have had, or are thinking of having, dental veneers fitted at our Bristol dental practice, it is worth spending a little time considering their aftercare.

Dental veneers are an excellent option for those who have severely stained teeth and wish to have whiter teeth again. They are also very useful for those with chipped or cracked teeth. Veneers are not, however,  fitted to rear teeth as they are primarily designed to be of aesthetic use and would not take the pressure which is generated by the grinding and chewing actions of the rear teeth.

Awareness

Because dental veneers look and feel natural, it can be easy to forget that you have them fitted. In many ways this is positive but there are certain personal habits which can affect your veneers which should be borne in mind. For those who bite their fingernails, for example, extra special care should be taken to avoid this as, although it won’t necessarily happen each time you do it, there is a very real possibility that this action could cause the veneers to become detached from the teeth. Similarly, other factors like pen chewing or biting into hard sweets, for example, may have a similar effect. So some reasonable care is needed.

Flossing

Flossing is a great way to keep your teeth in good shape and plays a large part in the prevention of gum disease too. Some people who have had veneers fitted though, avoid this process, fearing that it will cause the veneers to come away from their teeth. This is highly unlikely to happen though and a certain amount of common sense and care is all that it should take to avoid any detachment issues.

For those who do find flossing very difficult to do, our Bristol dentists are able to offer advice on flossing and also widely available alternatives such as inter-dental sticks which perform a similar function.

Brushing Your Teeth

Although porcelain or ceramic dental veneers will not decay, they can stain if abused, for example through excessive smoking. From an aesthetic viewpoint, it is still very important to brush regularly and failure to do so may well result in decay of the underlying tooth and/or the onset of gum disease. Either of these dental problems, if not rectified quickly, could mean that you lose the tooth that the veneer is attached to.

Early Veneer Care

One observation that some patients have made about their veneers is that their teeth are occasionally sensitive to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. This will not happen with all patients and many experience no problems at all. Because some of the natural tooth has been removed though, this procedure can cause some extra sensitivity in some people. Therefore we do recommend that, for a short while after the procedure, very hot or cold foods are avoided. Most people find find that any sensitivity recedes completely a short while after their veneers have been fitted.

For more information about having dental veneers fitted at Beau Monde Dental Care, your local cosmetic dentist in Bristol, please call us on 0117 330 3495.