Dental Veneers last for a lifetime, but like everything else, they need a little maintenance to keep their shine. Our custom dental veneers enhance both the look and function of your natural smile. Veneers, by design, address aesthetic concerns like tooth alignment, shape, size of teeth, and the color of your smile.
If you’re still on the fence about investing in cosmetic dentistry, it’s important to understand how long dental veneers will last.
Let’s take a step back, what are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers consist of thin layers of porcelain or other cosmetic material that is attached to the front of your most noticeable teeth (usually the upper front ones but it depends on how many teeth are visible when you smile.) Each respective veneer hides cosmetic imperfections or blemishes in the tooth behind it. Instead of covering the entire tooth with a crown, veneers simply adjust the visible surfaces of otherwise healthy teeth.
Is it painful to get veneers? Not at all, the process is similar to a filling or crown and your tooth will be numbed beforehand.
What are the different types of Veneers?
Part of the reasoning behind how long dental veneers last is the way they’re constructed. Are veneers permanent? It depends on the type of veneer you choose.
Porcelain Veneers
For the most natural looking smile with veneers, a porcelain variety is best. The hue of porcelain best mimics the natural color and transparency of anatomical teeth, allowing your smile makeover to look as natural as possible.
Porcelain veneers are permanent, in that if they ever need to be replaced several years later, you will need to update them with a new porcelain veneer. These veneer designs are handcrafted in a lab for optimal aesthetics and customization to the individual patient. When you look at pictures of porcelain veneers before and after, these aesthetic restorations offer the most life changing results out of any cosmetic enhancement available.
No-Prep Veneers
Something like a no-prep veneer is not permanent, and you can choose to have it removed in the future if you want. Prepless veneers—such as Lumineers—are placed directly over your unaltered tooth structure to change its appearance. No-prep veneers are appropriate for specific individuals, depending on your natural tooth shape.
Composite (Chairside) Veneers
These same-day dental veneers can be placed in just one appointment with little to no numbing. Our Los Angeles cosmetic dentists may recommend chairside veneers if you only have one or two teeth posing a cosmetic concern. Because composite is not as durable as porcelain, these veneers may only last about five years before they need to be replaced. If you’re prone to clenching or grinding your teeth or biting your nails, the composite will usually wear out or chip within a couple of years.
Lifespan of Porcelain Veneers
When it comes to porcelain veneers vs. composite veneers vs. Lumineers, porcelain veneers typically have the most extended lifespan, offering you the best return on investment. In clinical case studies, experts have found that adequately maintained porcelain veneers can last well over 20 years in most patients. Whereas same-day composite veneers typically only last for about five years or so before they need to be updated, depending on the individual.
Can Veneers Fall Off?
Cosmetic veneers are physically bonded or cemented to the front of each respective tooth. That being said, a veneer can fail if the bonding is not placed correctly by an experienced provider, or if tooth decay develops around and behind the veneer.
Similarly, abnormal and severe pressure could cause a veneer to fall off or break. For example, nighttime clenching and grinding could strain your veneers and surrounding teeth if you have undiagnosed bruxism or sleep apnea. Tooth wear and broken dental work are widespread with bruxism. Our Los Angeles dentists recommend sleeping in a night guard to protect your smile enhancement!
Can I Get Cavities on Veneers?
Like porcelain crowns or fillings, dental veneers cannot physically decay. However, the tooth behind the dental veneers can develop cavities. If this happens, it can cause the veneer to fail, fall off, or the tooth to break apart behind the restoration.
Thankfully, you can take steps to avoid cavities in teeth with dental veneers. Daily flossing is essential, as it cleans between teeth where a toothbrush doesn’t reach. It is highly safe to floss around veneers (flossing will not pull the veneer off your tooth) as they are permanently bonded to your tooth structure.
Do Veneers Stay White?
If they are porcelain veneers, although surface stains from foods or drinks (like red wine or coffee) can develop on the outside of your porcelain veneers, these superficial discolorations can be polished away during your dental cleaning. Unlike veneers, teeth are porous so discoloration may occur over time. Because we select the color of your new smile during the veneer process, your smile will stay bright white in the years ahead. You’ll need to schedule regular dental cleanings, and brush, and floss daily for maintenance. When you compare porcelain veneers before and after placement, and several years later, they typically look precisely the same.
However, chairside composite (same-day) veneers are more prone to picking up stains and discoloration. You can help prevent stain buildup by limiting dark liquids, drinking through a straw, and avoiding things like dark berries or tomato sauce.
How to Make Your Veneers Last as Long as Possible
To prolong the lifespan of your dental veneers, our Los Angeles cosmetic dentists from LA Dental Clinic recommend:
- Sleeping in a nightguard
- Scheduling regular exams and cleanings every six months
- Wearing a sports mouthguard when appropriate
- Flossing around each tooth every day
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Custom Dental Veneers in Los Angeles
Find out if cosmetic dental veneers are right for you. Contact LA Dental Clinic in Los Angeles to reserve a no-obligation consultation. We’ll discuss options for your smile makeover, including the choice of dental veneers, to help you select the best enhancement for your needs. Call now at (213) 342-6276, or schedule a virtual consultation through our online booking system.