Will Your Porcelain Onlays Match The Color Of Your Teeth?
Many people thinking about getting porcelain onlays find themselves wondering if the onlays will look like a natural part of their teeth. If you're thinking about getting onlays and have been asking questions about their appearance, these frequently asked questions may help assuage your concerns.
Will your porcelain onlays match the color of your teeth?
Your dentist will work carefully to ensure that your porcelain onlays will be matched to the color of your tooth enamel. If your teeth are naturally very white, your porcelain onlays will be the same shade of white. If your teeth are somewhat yellowed, your porcelain onlays will be as well.
Do porcelain onlays stain over time?
Porcelain has a protective glaze that prevents the onlays from absorbing color from your foods and beverages. As long as the porcelain glaze is intact, your onlays will continue to match the rest of your teeth. If the glaze becomes scratched or damaged by acidic foods over time, your onlays may start to stain because the porous part of the porcelain underneath the glaze will have been exposed.
How can you prevent your onlays from staining?
To prevent onlays from becoming stained, you'll need to do the following:
- Brush your onlays with an extra soft toothbrush. Porcelain is easily scratched by medium and hard bristle toothbrushes. Using a soft or extra soft bristled brush will help ensure that the glaze remains intact. Alternatively, you can also brush your onlays with a dental implant toothbrush.
- Avoid brushing your onlays with abrasive toothpastes. Brushing your onlays with a toothpaste that is formulated for porcelain dental implants will ensure that the toothpaste doesn't scratch the glaze.
- Brush your teeth after eating acidic foods and drinking acidic beverages. Learn which foods and beverages have a high acid content so you can be sure to clean them after eating and drinking all high-acid products.
- See your dentist regularly. Keep all regularly scheduled dentist appointments so your dentist can clean your onlays and remove any plaque and other buildup that could cause your onlays to stain.
For more information about how you can keep porcelain onlays looking beautiful and natural, talk to a dentist like Dr. David K. Skeels. He or she can answer your questions and give suggestions for the care and maintenance of porcelain. Your dentist may also be able to show you pictures of porcelain onlays, to help you decide whether or not the way they look is satisfactory for your needs.