Porcelain veneers. Whether someone is an international movie star or a working parent, this one treatment has been used to literally create millions of gorgeous smiles around the world. If you’re one of the many people who is currently thinking about getting them, here’s something you might not have considered: cavities. One of the most common dental problems, does getting porcelain veneers make you more or less likely to develop cavities? Today, your Highlands dentist gives you the facts you need before you beautify your smile.
Veneers Basics
Before we talk about how they affect your teeth, let’s briefly touch on what veneers actually are and how the treatment works.
Porcelain veneers are actually extremely thin ceramic coverings that are fitted directly onto the teeth to fix/mask a variety of cosmetic flaws. They are basically made of a glass-like material, and they are attached to the enamel using dental concrete. When designed and placed by a Highlands cosmetic dentist, they can drastically enhance the appearance of the smile and the face at the same time.
Veneers and Cavities
So how does this treatment affect your likelihood to get cavities? Will porcelain veneers basically make your teeth bulletproof, or will your new smile constantly be under threat of dental problems?
The answer is that a porcelain veneer, while covering much of the front surface of a tooth, actually does very little to affect the probability of a cavity.
Whenever we chew food, small particles accumulate on the back of the teeth as well as the front, and this is what feeds the bacteria in our mouth that uses it to create plaque, which is what leads to tooth decay and cavities. This process occurs whether or not a person has veneers.
Also, it’s possible for small food particles to become trapped along the front of the gum line regardless if the teeth are covered with veneers or not. This can lead to decay on the roots of the teeth, or more often, gum disease.
The big takeaway is that veneers have very little influence on a person’s cavity risk.
How to Prevent Cavities with Porcelain Veneers
Fortunately, avoiding cavities while you have porcelain veneers doesn’t require some special routine. In fact, it just consists of habits you should already be using:
- Brush twice a day for at least two minutes each time. It’s important that you brush with a light touch using a soft-bristled brush as well, as the opposite could actually scratch and damage veneers over time.
- Flossing once a day will help prevent cavities as well as stop gum disease.
- Regular dental visits will give your dentist a chance to clean your teeth where you can’t as well as make sure your veneers are in good shape. If they see a problem, they’ll be able to fix it for you before it gets worse.
Porcelain veneers have already helped countless people overcome dental imperfections to achieve a smile they can feel confident about, and with standard oral homecare and routine dental visits, those smiles will reliably stay cavity-free for several years to come.
About the Author
Dr. Stefanie Walker is a general, restorative, and cosmetic dentist based in Denver. At her practice, Pearl Dentistry, she and her team strive to give their patients the healthiest and most beautiful smiles possible. She has placed countless porcelain veneers over the course of her career, so if you’re considering them to makeover your smile, she’s the local authority people trust.
To learn more about porcelain veneers and how you can get them here in Denver, she can be contacted through her website.