Dental veneers are affixed to your teeth by a dentist. They are not intended to be removable by patients. Porcelain veneers are designed to last between 10 to 20 years before needing replacement.
Dental veneers are a cosmetic dentistry treatment that can completely transform your smile. One of the reasons why veneers are so popular is that they can instantly camouflage a wide range of smile imperfections, ranging from chips in the teeth to gaps between teeth to asymmetrical or misshapen teeth. They can even cover up stubborn areas of discoloration that don’t respond to teeth whitening treatments!
If you’re thinking about getting dental veneers, it’s natural to have some questions. Your best source of information is a cosmetic dentist, but the following information can serve as a general guide.
Here’s how long dental veneers last
Veneers are a long-term smile restoration solution, but at some point, they will need to be replaced. In order to understand why veneers will eventually need replacing, it’s helpful to understand what they are, exactly. A veneer is a very thin shell of material that is affixed to the front sides (the visible sides) of the teeth. It is tooth-colored and tooth-shaped. In short, it looks exactly like a natural tooth. A veneer can be made of different materials, including porcelain and composite resin.
Porcelain is the most popular material for dental veneers, with good reason. It has a highly natural-looking appearance, and it’s quite durable. Porcelain veneers last an average of 10 years. However, some research suggests that if patients take good care of them and the dentist applies them properly, porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years.
Composite resin is the same material used for tooth fillings and bonding. This material isn’t as widely used as porcelain for veneers. Veneers made of composite resin usually last about five years before requiring replacement. Accordingly, these veneers tend to be less expensive than porcelain veneers.
How to make your dental veneers last longer
Regardless of which material you’ve chosen for your veneers, you’ll undoubtedly want to make them last as long as possible. The first thing to do is choose a qualified cosmetic dentist. It’s important that each tooth to receive a veneer is properly prepared. Otherwise, the veneer could possibly fall off before its lifespan expires. Look for an established cosmetic dentistry office with a team that has years of experience in cosmetic treatments.
Once you have your veneers, you’ll need to be careful not to subject them to excessive stress or wear and tear. Avoid chewing on any non-food items, like ice cubes or pen caps. Avoid using your teeth to open lids or bottle caps. If you have bruxism, wear a custom-fitted nightguard during sleep. These healthy habits can prevent premature chipping of the veneers.
Schedule a consultation for dental veneers on Long Island
When you’re ready to transform your teeth and get that Hollywood smile you’ve been dreaming of, it’s time to schedule a consultation for porcelain veneers at Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry. Our cosmetic dentists will carefully examine your mouth and discuss your needs and expectations to ensure veneers are the right choice for you. Then, we’ll answer any questions you might have before moving forward with the treatment. To schedule a consult for dental veneers in Huntington, Long Island, call our office today.
Please note that we are currently open for all appointments, including cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers. We appreciate your help in adhering to our COVID-19 protocols.
Additional resources on dental veneers:
- Healthline, How Long Can You Expect Veneers to Last? https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-do-veneers-last
- National Library of Medicine, Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22259802/
