How long does a smile design last: discover its Durability and Care

Context of Smile Design

Smile Design is presented as a contemporary option in dentistry aesthetic. This set of procedures allows to patients to have the desired smiles, improving aesthetic and functionality.

What is a Smile Design?

Smile Design is a personalized process that has an objective: modification of the appearance of the teeth and smile. We can use different techniques and treatments to correct imperfections, seeking for a smile that harmonizes with the facial characteristics of patients.  With a smile design you can improve aesthetics and functionality with satisfactory results.

Objectives of a Smile Design

The objectives are diverse and can include:

• Improving the shape of your teeth to obtain a more aesthetic smile.
• Increase patient’s confidence when smiling.
• Correct bite issues 
• Restore dental health and prevent problems is the future. 

A smile design is a good option for who is looking to slight or significant changes in the smile.

Common treatments in a Smile Design

There are several types of treatments that can be considered in a smile design. They treatments include:

• Dental Veneers: thin sheets of porcelain, ceramic, or bonding that are placed over natura teeth to improve the patient’s appearance.
• Orthodontics: in some cases, braces or Invisalign treatment is necessary to align the teeth or bite before any aesthetic treatment.
• Dental Whitening: It is a procedure that temporarily lightens the natural color of the teeth.
• Oral Rehabilitation: a more complex treatment that intends to restore damaged teeth with implants, crowns over natural teeth and over implants, and dental bridges.

Those types of treatments are selected according with to the specific necessities of each patient, ensuring effectiveness and durability results.

Facts that Affect  the Smile Design Durability

The durability of the smile design may be influenced by many factors. Knowing these aspects is fundamentally to guarantee longer and satisfactory results.

Used Materials

The materials used in a smile design treatment is important for the life of it. Some examples are:

Porcelain veneers: known for their resistance and aesthetics, can last between 10 and 20 years approximately. 

Bonding Veneers: despite being more economical their life is 6 to 10 years approximately.

Crown and Bridges: Usually have the same durability of the porcelain veneers, if used high quality materials.

Dental Hygiene and cares

Dental Hygiene is important to maintain a properly oral health and durability of the treatments. A good dental health routine includes:

• Regular brushing: It is recommended to brush your teeth three times per day.
• Use dental floss: It is fundamental for eliminating the rest of food between teeth. Could be used every day, minimum one time per day.
• Mouth Wash: They can help maintain a fresh breath and eliminate bacterias.

Food Habits and Lifestyle

Food habits impact the durability of the dental treatments. Therefore, foods and drinks that can damage your veneers are:

Dark beverages: Coffee, tea, wine or any dark beverage can stain your bonding veneers and affect treatments such as whitening. Your bonding veneers can recover the initial color and appearance with a proper maintenance done by an aesthetic doctor.

Tabaco and nicotine: Smoking does not only affect teeth, but it also affects healing process and can cause periodontal diseases causing bone loss, mobility and teeth loss.

Hard Food or objects: Can damage veneers or break them.

Visits and regular maintenance

Doctor’s visits are important to ensure the success of the treatments. During consultations, the dentist can do:

• A professional cleaning: It helps to remove plaque and calculus.
• Evaluate the status of the dental treatments: detecting  on time any problem.
• Treatment’s adjustment: To ensure a proper adjustment.

Specific Durability of the Treatments

The durability of the smile design varies according to the procedure selected or materials used. Every treatment has different characteristics and different materials that can influence its life.

How long does a smile design last?

The duration of a smile design can be between 5 and 20 years, but there are several factors like the materials and maintenance which can determine its own duration.

Duration of the Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are known for its resistance and aesthetics. They are designed to last between 10 and 15 years. This longevity depends on the care and patient’s proper dental hygiene. Stain resistance makes them popular for those who are looking for an improvement in their smile.

Duration of the Bonding Veneers

Bonding veneers have less durability. They are designed to last between 5 and 10 years. They can get stains easily than porcelain veneers. A good dental hygiene can prolong its durability. But it is a good thing to consider having realistic expectations.

Temporary Effectivity of Dental Whitening

Dental whitening can offer temporary results. Its effectiveness can last between 6 months to 2 years. It depends on the food and drinks that can stain teeth such as coffee, tea and wine. For that reason, it is recommended to have food habits that help to maintain color after treatment. 

Care and Maintenance of post-treatment are fundamentally to guarantee the last and effectiveness of the smile design procedure. Having a good routine can help to maintain good oral health. 

Care and maintenance post-treatment

Tips to maintain good dental hygiene

It is very important to have good dental habits to maintain the quality of treatment. Doctors recommended following a good routine focused on preventing dental issues.

Using Dental Floss and Mouth Wash

Using dental floss is fundamental to eliminating food between teeth and veneers. It is recommended to use dental floss every day, minimum once per day. Complete your dental hygiene with mouth wash to maintain your breath fresh and fight bacteria to prevent periodontal diseases.

Prevent Harmful Habits 

Avoid biting hard things, like ice, bones or pencils. It is very important to prevent damage of the veneers. In addition, there could be some food and drinks that can stain teeth, like coffee, tea or wine. Smoking is another bad habit that can affect appearance and oral health, it is recommended to stop it.

Recommendations to Prolong the Duration of your Veneers

• Brushing teeth after eating to eliminate food residues and prevent stains.
• Using a soft brush to prevent unnecessary damage to veneers and tooth enamel.
• Changing dental brush every three months 

Scheduling regular appointments

Regular dental visits are important to keep maintaining good dental health after treatment. It is recommended to schedule a dental appointment every six months. These allows early detection and treatment adjustment. Also, it is important to keep an open dialogue with the dentist about your oral health.

Final Considerations

Decisions about making a smile design cannot be rushed. It is fundamentally to consider several aspects that can influence the results and durability.

Importance of selecting an Experienced Doctor

Selecting an experimented doctor is important to obtain satisfactory results. The doctor’s experience is determinant in the treatment quality. A professional dentist brings personalized assessment, ensures techniques and appropriated materials. Confidence and effective communication are important for a successful treatment.

Evaluation of expectations and expected results

Before starting any treatment, it is important to be sure about expectations. This includes understanding what can be achieved with a smile design and limits. The evaluation of the desired results must be done by each rpatient with the doctor to guarantee a satisfactory focus. An informed patient can help to align all expectations with the treatment.

Tips for a perfect smile in Medellín

Medellín offers a variety of options for those who want to get a smile design. Here are some recommendations to obtain optimum results.

• Follow instructions: It is important that patients follow doctor’s instructions and recommendations to make sure of the successful and lasting results.
• Previous investigation: Before selecting a dentist, it is recommended to investigate his history, check reviews and get recommendations of close people. 
• Initial consultation: Take advantage of the initial consultation to plan of all the questions and know different options. It is very important that patient feels comfortable and safe with the selected doctor.
• Keep communication: Open communication during all processes ensures that concerns are clear at the time.