Dental Restoration: Ways to Keep Yours in Good Condition

We can provide you with a dental restoration to correct any problems you have with your teeth. Whether your tooth is cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged, we can help by restoring both its form and function. With our help, we can ensure your teeth look beautiful and feel amazing. There is a variety of solutions we have to do so, including dental veneers, dental crowns, and dental bonding. All will look completely natural and give you the durability you need to eat your favorite foods and smile with confidence.

While they have varying life spans, with bonding being the least durable and crowns lasting the longest, there is no set timeframe for when a restoration will “expire” or need to be replaced. What you do on a daily basis can directly influence its longevity. For this reason, we recommend you take specific steps to keep your teeth and your restorations in excellent health.

Here are a few steps for your dental restoration you can take at home:

Brush and floss

While this is a must-do no matter what, some people make the mistake of thinking that they do not need to pay as much attention to their restorations as they would if all of their teeth were natural. This is simply not the case. Everything in the mouth works together, so if one area becomes infected, everything is at risk. For example, if a patient has dental crowns on several teeth, these crowns should prevent anything from coming in direct contact with the tooth.

However, if a patient develops gum disease and the gums begin to recede, the recession will expose more of the tooth structure and the crown may no longer cover all of it. Any time the patient has a natural tooth (even under a restoration,) gum disease can lead to an infection, among other problems. This makes it critical that patients brush their teeth at least twice per day and floss daily.

Wear a night guard

If a patient wakes up with constant headaches or pain in the face/jaw, then he or she needs an examination for TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) and grinding. If a patient is grinding or clenching the teeth at night, this can put a dental restoration and natural teeth at risk. Grinding, for example, can cause a perfectly good restoration to pop out of place.

Grinding can also crack or chip the teeth unless one wears a night guard during sleep. A night guard will prevent the teeth from touching and eliminate the risk of damage.

Wear a mouthguard

Anyone who plays sports will greatly benefit from wearing a mouthguard. A mouthguard is similar to clear aligners and is an essential step for protecting dental restorations, along with the natural teeth. Wearing a mouthguard while playing or practicing will prevent a rogue ball or elbow jab causing damage to the individual's teeth.

Visit Roderick A. Garcia, DMD PC for dental cleanings

We can keep teeth and dental restorations clean by removing plaque on and around the restoration. This is important for preventing cavities in natural teeth, as well as gum disease around restorations and all of the teeth. We suggest visiting us twice a year for this type of preventative care.

To learn more about protecting your restorations or to schedule a new dental restoration, visit Roderick A. Garcia, DMD PC.