Veneers are durable but not indestructible. How long they last depends less on the material than on what happens to them day to day. Here is what makes the difference.
What actually breaks veneers
- Grinding and clenching. The single biggest cause of chipped and debonded veneers. Many people do it in their sleep without knowing. If there is any sign of it, a night splint is usually recommended, and protecting the work is cheaper than replacing it.
- Using teeth as tools. Opening packaging, biting thread, holding pins. Natural enamel tolerates this better than a bonded ceramic edge.
- Hard foods on front teeth. Ice, nuts, hard crusts and olive stones. Biting into these with veneered front teeth is asking a thin ceramic edge to do something it is not designed for.
- Trauma. Contact sport without a mouthguard.
The gum line is where veneers usually show their age
A veneer does not change colour, but the gum can recede slightly over years, exposing the junction between veneer and tooth. That margin can become visible or pick up stain. Keeping the gums healthy is the main thing that slows this, which makes routine cleaning more relevant to the appearance of veneers than most people expect.
Day-to-day care
- Brush twice daily with a soft brush and a non-abrasive toothpaste. Whitening or “smoker’s” toothpastes are often abrasive and will dull the surface polish over time.
- Clean between the teeth daily. Decay can still develop on the parts of the tooth the veneer does not cover.
- Rinse with water after coffee, tea or red wine. Porcelain resists staining well; the bonding margin and any composite does not.
- Keep routine check-ups, so margins and bite are reviewed before small problems become replacements.
Porcelain and composite age differently
Porcelain holds its surface and colour well and is more resistant to staining. Composite is easier and less expensive to repair if it chips, but it picks up stain sooner and generally needs attention earlier. Neither is permanent, and both will need replacing eventually.
If something goes wrong
A veneer that chips, feels rough, catches floss or comes loose should be looked at promptly rather than left. A debonded veneer can often be recemented if it is intact and kept safe, so if one comes off, keep it.
Whitening and veneers
Veneers do not lighten with whitening. If you whiten the surrounding natural teeth after veneers are placed, the shades will no longer match. Whitening is therefore done first, and the veneers matched to the final result.
Related treatment
Read more about porcelain veneers in Bendigo, or about mouthguards and bite splints if you grind your teeth.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for an individual dental assessment.