Dental veneers are a great way to improve the appearance of your teeth, but how long do they last? The answer depends on the type of veneer you have and how well you take care of them. Porcelain veneers can last up to 10-12 years, while composite resin veneers should be replaced after 4-8 years. With proper maintenance, dental veneers can last up to 30 years. Porcelain is a type of glass, so it can break under excessive pressure.
To avoid this, it's important to take precautions when eating and avoid activities such as opening bottles with your teeth, chewing ice, or biting your nails. People who grind their teeth at night should wear a night guard to protect their veneers. Modern porcelain is often as strong or stronger than natural enamel, so you don't have to worry about it breaking from biting into food. On average, porcelain veneers tend to last around 10 years, but they can last even longer with proper care.
Many patients have porcelain veneers that still look great after 20 years. Dental veneers are used to improve the appearance of stained or discolored teeth, as well as to change the shape of chipped, uneven, misaligned, or worn teeth. In most cases, once a tooth has been veneered, it will always need another veneer or a dental crown in order to look and feel like a normal tooth. Composite veneers are sometimes used as diagnostic restorations before porcelain veneers are placed.
Tooth decay or partial detachment of the veneer may only be detected during a dental exam by your dentist. Gum disease can also make it difficult to have veneers placed and the margin between the veneer and the tooth could irritate already irritated gums and worsen gum disease. Veneers should always be considered a permanent treatment since the dentist will have trimmed your tooth in order to accept the veneer. While you can associate veneers with Hollywood smiles, they are also commonly used to fix gaps, stains, and chips in your teeth.
Dental bonding is another option for fixing these issues and involves applying a thin layer of composite resin to the outer layer of the tooth. If you're considering getting dental veneers, it's important to understand how long they last and how to take care of them. With reasonable precautions and proper maintenance, porcelain veneers can last up to 10-30 years. Composite resin veneers should be replaced after 4-8 years.
