Ways to Keep Your Dental Restoration in Good Condition

We can provide you with a dental restoration that is strong and durable. Whether you have cracked a tooth, chipped one, or even had one knocked out, we can help. We have a variety of cosmetic dentistry solutions we can use to do so, including dental bonding, dental veneers, dental crowns, a dental bridge, and dental implants. Regardless of which solution you select, we will ensure it looks beautiful and natural. It will function as well as a natural tooth would, giving you the ability to smile with confidence, eat your favorite foods, and speak clearly. What you need to remember, however, is that your restorations can become damaged just like natural teeth can. This makes it important to take steps to keep your mouth healthy and restorations in good condition.

There are certain things we recommend doing, and others we recommend avoiding, to keep restorations lasting for as long as possible. While there are no set expiration dates on solutions like crowns or veneers, they do have a general lifespan. There are a few steps that can influence how long restorations last, making them last longer than average or less than average. Here is some advice on how to lengthen the time a restoration lasts:

Tips to extend the life of your dental restoration

Wear a mouthguard

For anyone who plays sports, there is a good chance that a runaway ball may collide with the face. Even if one only plays the occasional pickup game of basketball, an accidental elbow jab can lead to tooth damage. If one just paid money for a dental restoration, the risk of damaging it is simply not worth it. A mouthguard is a simple, affordable, and comfortable way to protect one's teeth.

Keep them clean

Oral hygiene is always important, even if one has restorations. Many people make the mistake of thinking that if they have dental crowns, they do not need to worry about brushing as much since the crowns surround natural teeth. In reality, everything in the mouth works together. While a crown may prevent anything from touching the tooth, the crown still surrounds a natural tooth with a root structure. If plaque builds up around the gums of any teeth, it can cause them to become inflamed and then recede.

As they do, more of the tooth structure and roots can become exposed, and the patient is likely to struggle with infection, bone loss, and even tooth loss. Having a restoration will not prevent this. Good oral hygiene will, though, along with regular visits to our dental office for a teeth cleaning. We recommend that patients brush their teeth twice a day, floss daily, and have teeth cleaned twice a year.

Use a night guard

If there is a chance that you are grinding your teeth at night, you need to wear a night guard. Grinding your teeth can lead to jaw and face pain, but it can also cause your teeth to become damaged or a dental restoration to pop off. To protect yourself, wear a guard while sleeping.

For more tips on how to prolong the life of your dental restoration, call us at (808) 450-2101 and schedule an appointment with our dental office.