Things Every Dental Patient Should Know Before Getting Veneers Applied

Whether you're dealing with uneven, out-of-place, or discolored teeth, there are ways to address the problem. The first thing you should think about is asking your dentist for veneers. While veneers are a quick, easy cosmetic solution to unsightly dental issues, they also come with some important considerations. Before you reach out to your dentist about having veneers applied, you need to be sure that you fully understand the process and how to take care of them so that you don't damage them. Here are some of the things that you need to know.

Your Mouth Must Be Healthy

If you are considering dental veneers, you need to schedule a routine checkup with your dentist first. A successful dental veneer application requires that your mouth and gums be healthy. If you have any kind of gum infection or disease, applying veneers can actually render your condition more difficult to treat.

Instead, you will have to ensure that your gums and mouth are free of any kind of condition that could hinder your veneer application. Your dentist will need to treat the underlying condition before he or she can apply the veneers. Once your gums have been treated and are in a healthy condition, then you can explore the possibility of applying veneers.

Be Prepared For The Recovery Period

Having veneers applied will disrupt your gum tissue. It will also require that your natural teeth be ground down slightly to make room for the veneers to fit. As a result, your dentist will have to numb your mouth with an anesthetic before the procedure. When that anesthetic wears off, you will be left with some discomfort.

You might find that an ice pack on the outside of your mouth, paired with an over-the-counter pain medication, can help to ease that discomfort. It should only last a couple of days before you feel relief. However, if it persists after that, or it worsens instead of improving, you need to be prepared to contact your dentist. Those worsening symptoms can indicate that you have an infection started in your gums, which will need to be treated to ensure your dental health.

You Have To Be Careful Not To Damage Them

Like dental crowns, veneers are durable. Unfortunately, they are not completely free of hazards. You need to be aware of the damage risks so that you don't inadvertently undo all of the work that's done by your dentist.

For example, if you grind your teeth in your sleep, it can physically damage your veneers. It could even disrupt the adhesive that's holding your veneers in place. The same applies to eating particularly hard things, like ice and harder candies. Whenever you bite down on something like that, the pressure of it can do the same as grinding your teeth.

Finally, you need to watch out for staining your veneers. You have to be selective about the things you eat and drink when you have veneers because the same things that cause discoloration and staining on your teeth can do the same thing to your veneers. Things like beets, coffee, tea, certain squash types, and red wines can all cause this problem, along with some things you'd never expect. Be selective about what you eat, and make sure you keep up with your dental hygiene to help prevent staining and discoloration on your veneers.

These are all important things to think about before you decide to pursue dental veneer application. While veneers can help you restore your smile and create the look that you want, they are not completely foolproof. You need to discuss these things with your dentist before you make a final decision to ensure that you get the most from your dental work.