If you have had porcelain veneers put in, you probably know that from time to time they can become dirty. Veneers are tricky and if you have the older, coarse material veneers you may want to think about an update. The porcelain is more durable but they can still get dirty. Unfortunately whitening gels do not work on porcelain veneers, but there are several ways to ensure that your veneers stay as glowing as the day you got them.
Polishing
Make sure that you are going in for a routine polishing every couple of months. The dentists have tools that can dig deep into the veneer and polish it back to its bright and white originality. Sometimes after a while, food or dark drinks like red wine can collect at the top of the veneer. This, combined with the gums natural recession with aging can create a small brown ring around the veneer. This can be taken care of by stopping by your local dentist. They will polish your veneers and get rid of the nasty brown line. This will hopefully bring your smile and veneers back to their original whiter selves.
Trauma
If you’ve experienced any kind of striking or trauma to the face, it can directly affect your veneers. While the veneers themselves can not be whitened. It might be possible to whiten the entire tooth. Your teeth contain dentin, which is the tissue inside a tooth. If you are struck, your dentin can start to brown. This may give the appearance of your veneers starting to brown. Try this…place some whitening gel on the back of the affected tooth. Do this routinely and the whitening gel should slowly seep through and restore the tooth’s dentin. This will then, in turn, restore the appearance of the porcelain veneer and bring your smile back to its original color.
If you have questions about caring for or maintaining your porcelain veneers it is a good idea to schedule a time to talk to your friendly neighborhood dentist. They will be able to offer advice that is specifically geared towards your predicament and they will be able to take you through the steps for proper at home treatment of the veneers. Porcelain veneers can be tricky but you don’t have to lose hope if they start to darken. Usually a simple polish is all they need to keep you smiling confidently!
