Tips for Maintaining Cosmetic Dentistry Enhancements

When you invest time, money and energy in working with a cosmetic dentist to improve your smile, you want to do everything possible to make sure that your results last. Here are some suggestions for maintaining results of your cosmetic dentistry treatments.
If you have received a teeth whitening treatment, such as Zoom!, you will want to limit your consumption of foods and beverages that can stain the teeth and undo your teeth whitening efforts. Cut back on coffee, tea and red wine for starters. Dark berries may also cause tooth discoloration. Keep in mind that the results of teeth whitening systems are not intended to be permanent, either. They will last several months, but eventually you will need touch-up treatments. Your dentist can give you custom-designed trays to use with bleaching gels at home for this purpose.
A cosmetic dentist will often use porcelain veneers in order to improve a patient’s smile by concealing chips, cracks or stains that don’t respond to whitening treatments. These devices are very strong after they are bonded to the patient’s tooth and can last for decades with proper care. The key is making sure that you keep good oral hygiene habits, just as you do to keep your natural smile in good shape. While porcelain veneers aren’t likely to be damaged by most foods, you should use common sense, as anything that could potentially damage a biological tooth may also harm a porcelain veneer.
The process for maintaining other treatments offered by a cosmetic dentist, such as dental bonding or porcelain crowns, is quite similar. Good oral hygiene practices go a long way to protect your cosmetic enhancements.
If there are other specific concerns related to your treatment, your dentist will give you more detailed guidance on maintaining the results.
In order to keep your smile looking beautiful as long as possible after you’ve undergone treatments to enhance it, be sure to take good care of your teeth and gums.
If you have any questions about this aspect of your treatment, contact the office of Dr. Philip Kozlow and speak with one of our knowledgeable professionals.