We all love to eat. Who doesn’t? But what if we have veneers? Can we eat with them? This article will explain how veneers can affect us orally. Veneers are one of the options under cosmetic dentistry that can improve our teeth aesthetically.  It would also be safe to consult a dental professional to know which option will match your concerns, especially in improving your smile.

What are Dental Veneers?

Under cosmetic dentistry, various treatment options are available to address teeth concerns. Dental veneers are one of those options that your dental provider might recommend. Dental veneers involve thin wafers that the dentist will attach over the frontal tooth surfaces. Patients will receive customized veneers that will match their natural teeth.

The materials that patients can choose from are porcelain and resin composite materials. These two materials have apparent differences. Moreover, selecting the material depends on the patient’s preferences. However, porcelain veneers can resist stains better than resin veneers.

Dental veneers are less intrusive in comparison with crowns or braces. Veneers are excellent in correcting small misalignments and closing teeth gaps. Additionally, it is a solution for those who want to enhance teeth’ brightness and address issues like discoloration, fractures, or chips.

What to Expect in Porcelain Veneers Dental Procedure

In this cosmetic procedure, patients may only need to visit the dental clinic about one to three times. The first one will be for consultation, while the other two days are for the placement of veneers. Here is how it goes when you plan to address dental issues through veneers.

1. First and foremost, you need to consult a dental professional. You have to explain your purpose and what you want to achieve for your teeth. Diagnosis and treatment planning is most likely what will happen here.
2. On your next visit, the procedure will begin with preparation. Your dentist needs to remove about half a millimeter of enamel from the surface of your teeth. Before trimming, they will apply anesthesia to numb the target area.
3. Afterward, the dental professional will make a model or impression of your teeth, then forward them to a dental laboratory. It will take about two to four weeks to receive the permanent veneers back. For this reason, they might place temporary veneers on your teeth. Later on, we will explain about temporary veneers further.
4. The next step would be bonding. The dentist has to confirm if the veneer matches the fit and color of your tooth. They adjust the fit by trimming the veneer as needed. For the color, the adjustment happens through the shade of cement.
5. Afterward, cleaning, polishing, and etching will follow. The bonding material your dental team will use is a special cement, followed by a special light beam to harden it quickly. Then, final touches will follow to achieve the final result.

Note: You may still need to have follow-up visits to confirm how your gums react with the veneer.

Why is there a Need for Temporary Veneers?

You can also refer to temporary veneers as trial veneers. Generally speaking, wearing temporary veneers can help you feel and see how permanent veneers will be on your teeth. Aside from that, it may take time before the permanent veneers can arrive. So, it would be better to place temporary veneers to make your teeth still look presentable.

Moreover, it involves two primary purposes of why you’ll need temporary veneers. The first one is for you to check your phonetics. Will you be able to talk, laugh, or speak the way you used to before the procedure?

Meanwhile, the other one is for you to check how you would look with it. Even your friends and family can let you know if there is something odd with the placement. By the time the permanent veneers arrive, you can tell the adjustments you want to happen.

What to Eat with Temporary Veneers On?

• mashed potatoes
• eggs
• chicken
• soft foods
• banana
• pasta

Foods to Avoid

• hard foods
• sticky foods
• tough meat
• staining foods

Can You Eat With Veneers?

When you already have your permanent veneers on, this would be the question you would probably ask. Is it okay to eat with veneers? Well, of course! You can still eat while you have these on your teeth. However, it is not the same as how you usually do it.

There will be adjustments to the food you eat and the beverages you drink. But fortunately, porcelain veneers are less vulnerable to stains. Polishing is easy breezy to remove stains in just a few minutes. However, to make your veneers last longer, it would be best to avoid the following foods, drinks, and habits.

• dark liquids, such as coffee, black tea, red wine, etc.
• hard foods
• alcohol (frequent consumption may affect the bonding material)
• tobacco chewing
• sticky foods
• toasted bread
• tough meat
• staining foods, such as berries

Given these points, it would be best to follow aftercare instructions to make the veneers last longer. As much as possible, avoid eating the foods and beverages that may stain or harm your veneer.

Additional Guidelines To Protect Porcelain Veneers

It would be best to refrain from doing the following.

1. Avoid chewing ice or candies.
2. Refrain from biting on things you are not supposed to, such as pencils.
3. Use your back teeth when eating and chewing.
4. Practice good oral hygiene.
5. Never miss out on a single oral appointment or schedule.

Conclusion

Porcelain veneers are excellent treatment options to correct any aesthetic issues you have on your teeth. They are usually bonded to the front surface of your teeth. Moreover, porcelain veneers are stain-resistant. In effect, you can now smile more often and with self-confidence.

Final Thoughts

Loving your smile and keeping it makes you feel good about yourself. If you want to find out more about veneers and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, book a consultation now and check Boutique Dental in Chatswood for their offers.