How Long Do Veneers Last?
Dentists at Dearborn Family Dentistry offer a comprehensive range of cosmetic dentistry treatments to enhance the smile’s appearance. Porcelain veneers are one of the most versatile cosmetic restorations. Veneers conceal blemishes and superficial dental damage to improve the size, shape, color, and overall appearance of the teeth.
Porcelain veneers offer our Dearborn, MI, patients several benefits, including longevity. Here, we discuss how long veneers last and provide tips for maintaining these restorations to prolong treatment results.
Factors that Affect Veneers' Lifespan
Patients are often eager to learn how long their veneers will last. However, it is impossible to know an exact treatment lifespan since many factors affect veneers. Porcelain veneers’ lifespan depends largely on aftercare practices, such as eating and dental hygiene habits. Another factor that affects veneers’ durability is the materials used to fabricate them.
Porcelain Veneers vs. Composite Veneers
There are two primary types of veneers: composite veneers and porcelain veneers. Composite veneers are made of a synthetic mix of resin and glass. Composite veneers are not as costly as porcelain veneers and they require the removal of less tooth enamel. However, the drawback of composite veneers is their durability. Composite veneers are not as strong as porcelain veneers. Even with proper care, composite veneers last an average of four to eight years.
At our dental practice, we offer porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of medical-grade porcelain. Porcelain veneers permanently alter the teeth, and they generally cost more than composite veneers. However, the extra cost of porcelain veneers can be considered a good investment due to their superior strength and durability. With proper care, porcelain veneers should last 10 years or longer.
Maintaining Porcelain Veneers
The durability of veneers depends largely on their material, but aftercare practices and habits also impact the lifespan of these restorations. Proper oral hygiene practices and good dental habits help patients maintain the strength and appearance of porcelain veneers. We recommend these tips for prolonging treatment results:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and preferably after each meal
- Floss daily
- Minimize consumption of hard, sticky, and chewy food
- Refrain from eating or drinking dark-colored food and beverages
- Avoid bad dental habits, such as nail-biting and using your teeth as tools, that expose the teeth to excessive force
What Can I Do About Worn or Damaged Veneers?
With good oral hygiene practices, porcelain veneers should last at least a decade. When veneers eventually wear down (or if they are prematurely damaged), patients must seek dental care to preserve the smile’s beauty and protect underlying teeth from decay and infection.
Porcelain veneers cannot be repaired, but they can be replaced. Replacing worn or damaged porcelain veneers is a painless procedure similar to the initial placement. Our Dearborn dentists remove the old veneer, clean the teeth of bonding materials, and then fabricate and place the new restoration.
Contact Dearborn Family Dentistry
Porcelain veneers are a durable solution for many cosmetic imperfections, including dental stains, gapped teeth, minor malocclusion problems, chips, cracks, and fractures. To learn more about porcelain veneers treatment and find out if you are a candidate, contact our dental practice.