Investing in dental restorations like crowns and veneers can transform your smile, providing both aesthetic improvements and functional benefits. However, these restorations aren’t indestructible—they require proper care to ensure they last as long as possible. With the right maintenance, your dental work can continue looking beautiful and functioning properly for many years.
At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM provides high-quality dental restorations and guides patients on how to protect their investment. Following these maintenance tips can help extend the life of your crowns and veneers while preserving your oral health.
Understanding Your Dental Restorations
Before diving into maintenance tips, it helps to understand what your restorations are made of and how they function:
Dental Crowns: These cap-like restorations completely cover a damaged tooth, providing protection and restoring function. Modern crowns are typically made from porcelain, ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or gold.
Dental Veneers: These thin shells are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers are usually made from porcelain or composite resin and are primarily used for cosmetic enhancement.
While both restorations are durable, they’re still subject to wear and tear if not properly maintained.
Daily Care Tips for Crowns and Veneers
Maintaining your dental restorations starts with consistent daily habits:
- Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush – Hard bristles or aggressive brushing can scratch porcelain surfaces and irritate the gum line around your restorations
- Floss daily around all restorations – Pay special attention to the gum line where your crown or veneer meets your natural tooth
- Use non-abrasive toothpaste – Avoid whitening toothpastes or those with baking soda, which can be too abrasive for porcelain surfaces
- Consider an antimicrobial mouth rinse – This can help reduce bacteria around restoration margins where your crown or veneer meets your natural tooth
Remember that while the restoration itself can’t decay, the natural tooth structure underneath or adjacent to it remains vulnerable to cavities.
Protecting Your Investment
Beyond basic hygiene, these protective measures can extend the life of your dental work:
- Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth – Bruxism (teeth grinding) can chip, crack, or wear down restorations prematurely
- Use a mouthguard during sports – Any physical activity that risks impact to the face warrants protection
- Avoid using your teeth as tools – Never open packages, cut thread, or bite fingernails with restored teeth
- Be cautious with very hard foods – Ice, hard candies, and nuts can potentially damage restorations if bitten directly
Foods and Habits to Avoid
Certain foods and habits pose particular risks to dental restorations:
- Sticky foods like caramels and taffy can potentially dislodge crowns or veneers
- Dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine can stain the margins of restorations over time
- Tobacco products not only stain restorations but can compromise the health of surrounding gum tissue
- Excessive alcohol consumption can weaken the bonding materials over time through dehydration
If you do consume staining beverages, using a straw can help minimize contact with your dental work.
Regular Professional Maintenance
Your at-home care routine should be complemented by regular professional attention:
- Attend six-month check-ups and cleanings – Dr. Sharbash can identify and address any issues with your restorations before they become serious problems
- Have professional polishing – Special polishing agents designed for dental restorations can help maintain their luster
- Get periodic professional photos – Comparing images over time can help track any subtle changes in your restorations
- Report any issues promptly – If you notice any changes in how your restoration feels or looks, schedule an appointment right away
During your regular visits to Newport Beach Dental Center, we’ll thoroughly evaluate your restorations for any signs of wear, check the margins where they meet your natural tooth, and ensure the surrounding gum tissue remains healthy.
When to Seek Immediate Attention
Some situations warrant contacting our office promptly:
- A crown or veneer feels loose
- You experience pain or sensitivity around a restoration
- You notice a chip or crack in your dental work
- There’s a significant change in how your bite feels
- The restoration’s color appears to be changing dramatically
Addressing these issues early can often prevent more extensive problems and help preserve your restoration.
The Value of Biomimetic Dentistry
Dr. Sharbash’s approach to dental restorations follows biomimetic principles—meaning treatments are designed to mimic natural tooth structure and function. This conservative approach preserves more of your natural tooth structure and creates restorations that integrate more seamlessly with your existing teeth.
The biomimetic techniques used at Newport Beach Dental Center can result in stronger bonds between your restorations and natural teeth, potentially leading to longer-lasting results when properly maintained.
Your dental restorations represent both a financial investment and an investment in your health and confidence. With proper care, crowns and veneers can provide beautiful, functional results for many years. If you have questions about caring for your dental work or if it’s time for your regular check-up, contact Newport Beach Dental Center at (949) 760-9212 or through our online appointment form.
