Considering Lumineers? Protect Your Smile Investment

I’m getting a smile makeover and am considering Lumineers. Is there anything I need to know before making this investment?

Chris

Dear Chris,

Lumineers advertisemet in three pictures . One of a owman smiling and two showing the size of the Lumineers

The first thing to do is choose the dentist, not the brand. While Lumineers are highly advertised, there are other brands of ultra-thin porcelain veneers which may be a better fit for the smile makeover you are hoping to achieve. A good cosmetic dentist knows the pros and cons of each brand.

Once you’ve received your smile makeover, you’ll want to make sure you take great care of it. I’d start by making sure you have great dental hygiene. This means brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. There is a special toothpaste designed especially for cosmetic dental work you may want to invest in. Supersmile Toothpaste is specially formulated to keep your porcelain veneers stain-free while not causing any damage to the glazing.

Protect Your Porcelain Veneers from the Dentist

Not every hygienist has the knowledge of how to maintain porcelain veneers. Because of that they may use something like a power prophy jet during the cleaning process, which will remove the glaze on your veneers. They’ll look and feel fine at the office, but will quickly begin to pick up stains.

Another no-no would be acidulated fluoride. This will chemically etch the glaze, also causing stains and bacteria to get trapped in the notches. If you are not with an office who regularly does cosmetic work, I suggest you make sure the hygienist knows you don’t want those things used on your veneers. If you’re in an office familiar with cosmetics there shouldn’t be a problem.

Protect Your Lumineers from Tooth Grinding

If you happen to be someone who clenches or grinds your teeth, your dentist needs to fit you for a nightguard. This will create a buffer between your arches of teeth taking the pressure off them.

When you grind your teeth, it wears them down. Eventually, they will be worn down to nubs and require you to have dental crowns placed on them. Even the crowns won’t hold up for long. If you are going to invest in a beautiful smile, getting a nightguard to protect it is a no-brainer.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.