Can You Get Cavities with Porcelain Veneers?

Though veneers were originally created to give movie stars gorgeous grins, they’re used today to perfect the smiles of anyone from popular musicians to everyday people. They’re a great way to cover up imperfections, like cracks, gaps, minor alignment issues, and discoloration, to give you a more beautiful smile. As lovely as veneers can make your teeth look, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to oral health issues. Read on to learn whether or not it’s still possible to get cavities when you have veneers and what you can do to keep them from developing.

Can You Still Get Cavities with Veneers?

Since veneers are made out of porcelain, they can’t develop cavities. These porcelain shells only cover the front-facing surfaces of your teeth, which means the rest of the tooth is still vulnerable to decay. That means the teeth they are attached to can still develop cavities if you aren’t maintaining a good oral health routine. If the decay gets bad enough, it may even jeopardize your veneers.

5 Tips for Maintaining Your Veneers

If you develop cavities under your veneers, they will need to be removed to treat the tooth. This will ultimately cost you more time and money than if you had kept the decay from developing in the first place. There are a few ways you can go about maintaining your veneers, including:

• Visit your dentist regularly – Every six months, schedule an appointment to see your dentist. During these visits, your hygienist will clean your pearly whites to make sure cavities don’t develop under your veneers or on your other teeth. Your dentist will also be able to identify oral health issues and treat them before they jeopardize your veneers.
• Use the right products – Abrasive toothpaste can dull the glossy surface of your veneers. Make sure to ask your dentist for recommendations to ensure that you keep them looking their best.
• Have a good oral hygiene routine – Brush your teeth twice and floss once per day to keep your veneers in good condition by avoiding cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
• Eat with caution – Avoid eating hard or sticky foods likecrunchy bread, taffy, and peanut brittle or exercise caution when consuming them to prevent chips and cracks from forming in your veneers.
• Quit unhealthy habits – Smoking, using your teeth to open things, chewing on ice, and other harmful oral health habits pose a risk to your veneers. Stop these things immediately to keep your teeth looking their best.

As long as you take good care of your veneers and prevent cavities from forming, you can enjoy a beautiful smile for 20+ years. Brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly to keep your pearly whites looking perfect!

About the Practice

If you’re looking to straighten a crooked smile, close gaps between your teeth, cover up unsightly stains, or disguise cracks, West Hartford Dental Group can help. They offer lifelike, durable porcelain veneers that can make your smile look as good as new and preventive dental treatments to keep cavities at bay. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment with West Hartford Dental Group or want more information about veneers, call (860) 236-4249 or visit their website.