The Importance of Oral Hygiene to Long Lasting Cosmetic Dentistry
Many people undergo cosmetic dentistry as a way to aesthetically improve their smiles whether it be through teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental implants, teeth crowns, or a combination of procedures. Cosmetic dentistry has provided patients with all sorts of dental problems the ability to become confident in their smiles. Advances in the dental world continue to expand the capabilities of cosmetic dentistry, but one thing remains key to maintaining an amazing smile: basic oral hygiene.
Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way, and some of the technologies available today can promise patients more than a great smile. “Each day, patients come into our dental office with the hopes of improving fairly minor imperfections in their smiles. Some do it for aesthetic reasons alone while others need restorative dentistry to bring their smiles back into a state that is not only aesthetically pleasing to look at but also fully functional,” explained Phoenix, Arizona dentist, Dr. John Pappas. A full mouth reconstruction can give patient a complete renovation that also corrects TMJ disorder.
However, one key piece behind cosmetic dentistry that some patients tend to forget about is their oral hygiene. With a brand new smile in tow, many patients think that their perfect smile is now here to stay, and while most cosmetic restorations are very durable, in order for any smile to remain flawless, good oral hygiene is a must.
“Proper, on-going dental care and cosmetic dentistry go hand in hand,” says Novi, Michigan dentist, Dr. Joseph Serra, “Patients who neglect their oral health most definitely neglect their cosmetic dentistry. Without proper oral care patients can easily undo what cosmetic dentistry accomplished.”
Maintaining oral health is important before and after any type of cosmetic dentistry. When the rest of your mouth is healthy, your cosmetic dentistry outcomes will shine even more. For example, healthy gums are known to further improve the look of procedures such as dental crowns, dental implants, and dental veneers. The inverse is also true, says Dr. Serra, “Just because you have porcelain veneers on your front teeth doesn’t mean that those teeth are immune to periodontal disease. Teeth with veneers can be lost just as easily as normal teeth.”
Taking care of your mouth and teeth is simple for the most part: brush and floss on a twice-daily basis (and in between meals if you can) and be sure to have routine visits with your dentist to ensure that no underlying dental conditions, such as gum disease, are present.
It’s common for the average American to be behind in their visits to the dental office, but for patients who have undergone cosmetic dentistry, it’s a really bad idea to skip appointments. “When you’ve made a financial investment in cosmetic dentistry, it really doesn’t make sense to forgo a hygiene appointment in order to save time or money. The reality is, you’re jeopardizing the investment that you’ve already made in your smile when you do so,” says Dr. Pappas.
