As a popular cosmetic dentistry option, veneers are designed to permanently enhance the overall appearance of your teeth. Using a completely non-surgical and pain-free process, veneers are applied to your front teeth in order to cover up any cracks or blemishes. The way your trusted Mission Viejo dentist creates veneers is through a customizable process that is made to fit the exact specifications of your teeth.
What to Do if You Damage Your Veneers
Made of a durable porcelain material that closely resembles real teeth, veneers are built to last for a long time. In fact, the dentist does not expect that you will ever need a replacement. That does not mean that veneers do not get cracked or damaged every so often. You should know what to do if you damage your veneers unexpectedly in order to avoid costly and even painful repairs.
Get in Touch with Your Dentist
The most important person you need to contact as soon as you damage your veneers is your dentist. A professional will be able to properly assess the extent of the damage in order to determine whether or not your veneers need to be replaced. You can schedule an appointment with your dentist by calling the office during business hours or by visiting your local emergency dentist ASAP.
Depending on how you were injured, you might have possibly damaged your natural teeth underneath the veneer. This likely did not happen, but it is important to be as exhaustive as possible when you visit the dentist. You might have chipped or crack your tooth underneath the veneer. This will require dental bonding or another restorative treatment before new veneers are reapplied.
Try to Save Your Veneer
You can save your veneer if it is not too terribly damaged. Major cracks, chips, or tears in the veneer may require immediate treatment, so you should get in touch with your dentist just to be safe. However, in some cases, you might be able to wait until the next available appointment. You can save the whole fragment of your veneer if it has fallen off in one piece. Or if the damage is very minimal. Just make sure to let your dentist know that you want to save your veneers.
Veneers with major damage will need to be replaced as soon as possible. A cracked or broken veneer leaves a big chip in your mouth. Which is not only uncomfortable while eating or speaking. But also leaves you susceptible to an infection as bacteria builds up in between the cracks. Without proper dental care, it is also possible to get a tooth infection under your veneers. Make sure to ask about a proper cleaning routine with your dentist the next time you discuss your veneers.
Prevent Future Veneer Damage with Our Expert Treatments
You can prevent damage to your veneers and ensure a long life of dental health by following the steps to basic daily hygiene. Veneer maintenance goes beyond just brushing and flossing though. You should also take care to not grind your teeth at night and not chew on any hard objects that could potentially cause your teeth to crack. Consistent bad habits will almost certainly break your veneers down fast, leading to inevitable damage down the line.
At Mission Viejo Dental, we offer individually focused plans of care. Each designed to help you make the most of your dental health. Whether or not you have dental veneers already, you may be interested in learning more about their benefits that are designed to last you for the rest of your life. We invite you to learn more by giving us a call or visiting us online before you schedule an appointment.