How to Protect Porcelain Veneers from Chipping or Cracking
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When you make an investment in your smile, it only makes sense to want to know how to protect your investment for as long as possible. With porcelain dental veneers, patients can enjoy a stunning, Hollywood-worthy smile for up to a decade or longer if they follow proper care tips and practice a healthy lifestyle overall. This includes not using teeth as tools, avoiding overly hard or gummy foods, and keeping up with dental and oral hygiene.
At Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates, Farmingdale, NY dentist Dr. Angela Ferrari offers customized porcelain veneers designed to look, feel, and function as well as or better than natural teeth, which can give you the confidence you deserve. Here, you'll find tips to help prevent veneers from chipping, cracking, or otherwise getting damaged so you can enjoy your stunning smile for longer.
How long do porcelain veneers last?
With proper care and maintenance, high-quality porcelain dental veneers can last for up to a decade — and often longer. It is important to keep in mind that while porcelain veneers are considered extremely durable and stain-resistant, they are not indestructible or stain-proof. With this in mind, patients considering dental veneers should understand and be committed to proper care habits, including regular brushing and flossing, avoiding certain foods, and more.
Can porcelain veneers chip?
Again, veneers are designed to be as strong as — or stronger than — natural teeth, but they can still chip, crack, stain, and even fall out. Some essential tips to help prevent chipping veneers and other types of damage include:
- Do not bite your nails
- Do not chew ice
- Do not use your teeth as tools
- Avoid overly hard, crunchy, sticky, or gummy foods and candies
- Wear a protective night guard if you clench or grind your teeth
- Wear an athletic mouth guard during high-risk activities and contact sports
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products to avoid discoloration
- Rinse after consuming staining foods and beverages, like coffee, tea, red wine, and tomato sauce
- Visit us for your regularly scheduled teeth cleanings and dental exams
Can chipped veneers be fixed?
In some cases, it may be possible to repair chipped veneers or cracked dental restorations. Even a chipped tooth can often be repaired with dental bonding and contouring. For more extensive damage, including a large chip in porcelain veneers, Dr. Ferrari may recommend replacing the veneers. Rest assured that replacement porcelain veneers can be custom-made to match the shape, size, shade/color, and other attributes of the surrounding natural teeth and/or veneers to ensure your seamless smile is restored once again.
What should I do if my veneers fall out?
If your veneers feel loose or if they have fallen out, don't hesitate to call our office as soon as possible. If the veneers fell out intact, bring them with you so that we can evaluate whether or not it may be possible to reattach the veneers. Whatever the case may be, our caring team is here to help restore your smile, comfort, and confidence as conveniently as possible.
Get the whiter, brighter, celebrity smile you've always wanted with porcelain veneers in Farmingdale, NY
If you're thinking about upgrading your smile but have concerns about how durable veneers and other dental restorations are, you may be excited to learn that with proper care, porcelain dental veneers can last for up to a decade and often longer. Take the first step toward a smile you can feel proud of by calling our team at Ferrari & Aldieri Dental Associates to schedule your consultation and exam with Farmingdale, NY family dentist and porcelain veneer specialist Dr. Angela Ferrari.