Does a Hollywood smile need maintenance?

The veneer itself does not decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum around it can. So the most important maintenance is cleaning at the margins: a soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste twice a day, and floss or interdental brushes daily. Neglected margins cause gum inflammation and bad breath — problems often wrongly blamed on veneers. See the veneers aftercare guide.

The second risk is force: night grinding, biting bones or ice, or opening packaging with your teeth can chip or debond a veneer. Grinders need a custom night guard. Coffee and tea do not stain porcelain and E.max the way they stain composite, but they can stain margins and uncovered teeth, so regular cleaning keeps the colour even.

Check-ups about every 6 months cover gums, bite and margins, with cleaning and polishing using porcelain-safe tools. If you notice persistent sensitivity, a change in your bite or a rough edge, tell the clinic rather than waiting. If one veneer breaks, it can often be replaced on its own in the same shade, as the design is kept at Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai.

For patients from outside Duhok: you leave with written instructions, and back home you can send photos on WhatsApp, or be seen at Creative Arts in Dubai if you are in the UAE. See also follow-up after returning home and the Hollywood smile page.

• Soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste twice daily
• Floss or interdental brushes every day
• Night guard if you grind
• No biting bones, ice or packaging
• Check-up and clean about every 6 months