Dental veneers can become an excellent and quick solution to various cosmetic issues for many people. Issues that can be effectively addressed with veneers include stains, discoloration, misshapen or uneven teeth, gaps between the teeth, teeth that appear too short, a “gummy” smile, etc. But before committing to the procedure, patients want to know: are veneers easy to break? In this article, we answer this question and give tips on how to prevent your veneers from breaking.
Are Veneers Easy to Break?
There are two main types of veneers: porcelain veneers and resin composite veneers. Porcelain veneers are considered more durable than those made of resin composite. This being said, both types of veneers are designed to withstand a certain amount of chewing pressure and wear and can last for years with proper care and lifestyle habits. Porcelain veneers can serve you for up to 15 years, and resin composite veneers typically last for up to 7 years.
Let us look at the main rules that will help you prevent your veneers from breaking:
Choose a Reliable Cosmetic Dentist
The first step to a successful dental procedure of any kind is to find an experienced, reliable, and attentive doctor to perform it. Veneers that are improperly applied or initially do not fit correctly can break once you start applying pressure to them by biting and chewing food.
Always check if your dentist has the necessary qualifications, diplomas, licensing, and certification. Additionally, you can check if the doctor undergoes professional training regularly in order to stay up to date with modern dental techniques. A respectable dental office should have such documents readily available to their patients.
Also, do not forget to check patients’ reviews of the procedure and the doctor who performed it, but be aware of the AI-generated reviews.
Adjust Your Diet
Some foods can be dangerous to eat with dental veneers, as they can break or pull your veneers:
- Hard and crunchy foods, such as crackers, nuts, hard candy, sugar cubes, etc.
- Sticky foods, such as toffee, caramel, licorice, gum, uncooked dough, etc.
- Foods that require a lot of force to bite a piece off, such as hard apples
Prevent Physical Damage
Veneers can be broken or cracked due to a physical impact. Thus, we recommend that you should never use your teeth as tools and always wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports or engaging in other activities that pose a risk of oral trauma. A mouth guard can effectively absorb the force from the impact, thus saving your veneers.
Additionally, grinding or clenching your teeth can also break your veneers or cause them to wear off faster. If you have bruxism (uncontrollable teeth grinding while asleep) or catch yourself clenching your teeth during the day, consult your doctor to seek a solution for this issue. The consequences of bruxism can be minimized with, for example, wearing a mouth guard at night. Also, there are other methods of treatment available, such as counseling, physical therapy, etc.
Other Tips for Dental Veneer Care
Apart from preventing your veneers from breaking, you should also take care not to stain them. Additionally, we recommend committing to maintaining good oral hygiene so that the teeth underneath your veneers do not get cavities and the surrounding gums do not get infected.
Here are several tips we recommend following to preserve the original appearance of your veneers and your oral health:
- Avoid foods and beverages that contain natural or artificial coloring pigments (red wine, black coffee and tea, curry, red paprika, beetroot, carrots, soda, etc.). Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth, if possible, immediately after a meal if you consume staining foods or drinks.
- Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Floss every evening.
- Add a water flosser as a first step in your oral hygiene routine to maximize the effectiveness of traditional flossing and fluoride toothpaste.
- Do not use abrasive toothpaste and bleaching agents (whitening solutions) on your veneers to avoid damaging their surface. Food particles can accumulate in micro scratches created by such products, making your veneers stained or discolored.
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments.
Get High-Quality Dental Veneers at Glendora Family Dentistry
As we mentioned before, choosing a reliable and experienced cosmetic dentist is key to the success of the dental veneer procedure and long-lasting results. Do not hesitate to call our office today and make an appointment with a highly qualified specialist. We will help you choose the most suitable type and shade of veneers to accommodate your cosmetic goals.
We look forward to your visit to Glendora Family Dentistry.
