I think I have made a big mistake – one that has potentially ruined my porcelain veneers. After two months of using Crest 3D toothpaste, I read that I shouldn’t be using abrasive toothpaste on my veneers. Have I scratched the surface or will the glaze come off causing the shine to wear off quicker? A friend of mine suggested using Supersmile toothpaste and I am going to get some right away, but I am afraid the damage has already been done. — Angela in Nebraska
Angela,
You are correct in the fact that you should avoid abrasive toothpaste if you have porcelain veneers, but not because it will scratch the porcelain (the porcelain is too hard), but because it will scratch and wear away the material used to bond the veneers to your teeth. When veneers are cemented, the bonding composite forms a very thin line around them. The thickness of that line can vary based on the technique of the dentist and the ceramist. You’ll likely not notice anything yet if you’ve only been using the Crest for a couple of months, but if the bonding composite has been scratched, it could begin to pick up stain overtime and you will eventually notice a line of discoloration around the veneer. If prolonged use of abrasive toothpaste causes the composite to wear away that area is susceptible to plaque and decay.
You should use Supersmile toothpaste as a regular maintenance routine for your expensive dental work. If you do that going forward, you should have nothing to worry about.
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.