Are Teeth Susceptible to Cavities While Wearing Veneers?

Choosing to hide your imperfections with customized veneers is an excellent choice. Not only will you enjoy the uniformity and beauty that these restorations provide, but you’ll no longer feel defeated when looking in the mirror in the mornings. But now that they are in place, you may wonder if cavities with veneers are possible. Read on to find out the answer and what you can do to better protect your pearly whites.

Cavities with Veneers: Is It Possible?

Veneers are more commonly made out of porcelain, which is not porous like traditional tooth enamel. As a result, plaque and tartar cannot penetrate the veneer itself, so it cannot develop a cavity. However, before you assume that you give up on your oral hygiene routine, you must understand that veneers only cover the front surfaces of your teeth.

The backsides remain exposed, putting them at risk for tooth decay. This is why cosmetic dentists strongly urge patients like yourself to adopt good oral hygiene habits to keep existing teeth and those with veneers healthy.

What Can Happen if Cavities or Gum Disease Develop?

The problem with a developing cavity or gum disease is that it will not only worsen your oral health, but it will also require you to spend more money on treatment. If veneers are already in place, your dentist will need to remove them to fix the problem before having new ones put into place.

This can be a costly venture that requires even more of your time.

Ways to Protect Your New Smile

Allowing cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health problems to occur while wearing veneers is what you want to avoid, but how? Here are a few helpful tips to make the process easier:

• Adopt a good oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing regularly.
• Continue to see a qualified dentist who can examine and clean your teeth and ensure no damage is evident on your veneers.
• Avoid eating too much sugar and starch, as these can cause tooth decay and cavities to form over time. Instead, stick to healthier, nutrient-rich foods.
• Drink plenty of water to keep your saliva production up to speed.
• Use non-abrasive toothpaste to keep your veneers damage-free, as the regular kind can cause scratches to form on the porcelain, making them appear dull.

Veneers are a great way to hide imperfections, but they are not a guaranteed way to avoid cavities. It requires a commitment on your part to keep your smile looking and feeling its best so that you can remain confident in your decision to choose veneers.

About the Author
With more than 40 years of practicing dentistry, Dr. William Twohig continues to deliver beautiful results with the help of veneers. Using high-grade porcelain to craft these restorations, he will work with patients to help them better understand the benefits of veneers as well as how to properly care for them as well as regular teeth to avoid common oral health problems like cavities and gum disease. If you are interested in veneers and want to learn if you might be a candidate, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.