Porcelain Dolls are Fragile is My Porcelain Veneer Fragile Too?

Many patients consider porcelain to be an extremely delicate material, and that leads them to ask us why it’s used for dental crowns, bridges, veneers, and other restorations. Actually, the type of porcelain used, design of the restoration, and a number of other factors all impact the strength of porcelain restorations. As an example, we remind patients of the strength of ceramic kitchen knives, which are able to chop and slice through very hard foods without being damaged. The way we craft and place porcelain restorations ensures they are strong, and that they will last for five to ten years or longer with proper care. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the porcelain restoration materials used and what you can do to keep your dental restoration functional for years to come.

Types of Porcelain

The type of porcelain plays a large role in the durability and longevity of dental work. Some of the most commonly used forms of porcelain restoration material include:

• Feldspathic porcelain – a sturdy quartz-based porcelain material typically used to craft veneers
• Glass leucite – a mixture of glass sand ceramic used for dental crowns and bridges
• Zirconium – the least cosmetic of the porcelain materials, zirconium dioxide is used to create larger, more durable restorations for back teeth
• Lithium disilicate – made up of a number of materials, including quartz, lithium dioxide, phosphor oxide, alumina, and potassium oxide, these porcelain materials are innovative solutions that work for crowns, bridges, and veneers

Protecting Your Porcelain Restorations

In order to ensure your porcelain dental crown, bridge, or veneers remain whole and functional as long as possible, keep the following tips in mind:

• Brush two minutes at a time at least twice a day
• Brush systematically not randomly
• Use soft or ultra soft toothbrushes
• Use minimally abrasive toothpaste
• Brush gently
• Floss at least once each day
• Use waxed floss or a water flosser to avoid pulling around edges of the restoration
• Visit the dentist twice a year for dental exams and professional cleanings
• Wear mouthguards to protect teeth during sports or from nighttime teeth grinding and clenching
• Avoid using teeth as tools to open packages or crack nuts
• Don’t chew on nails, pen caps, or ice

Meet the New Image Dentistry Team

At New Image Dentistry, we offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry services with the goal of offering lasting results that keep our patients smiling. If you’re in need of dental care, want to learn more about restoration materials, or it’s time for your six month checkup and teeth cleaning, give our San Antonio dentistry team a call today. We look forward to helping you create healthy, flawless smiles.