How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

With a thin layer of porcelain that covers your natural tooth, veneers are the ideal approach changing your smile one tooth at a time. If you find that one tooth is too small, another too dark and another is crooked, porcelain veneers can address all of these issues.

Once they are in place with dental cement, porcelain veneers are ready to start working just like your other teeth. And, just like your other teeth, if you care for your porcelain veneers well, then you will extend their lifespan. Neither are indestructible, but you can expect your porcelain veneers to last ten to twenty years.

Permanent Fix?

Depending on your daily habits, where the porcelain veneers are located in your mouth and how you care for them between dental appointments, your porcelain veneers will last longer than the average fifteen years if you protect them. In some cases, if the porcelain is damaged or worn down they could be repaired instead of having to be completely replaced.

Anything that would damage your natural teeth will most likely compromise your porcelain veneers. If you like to crunch on ice or hard foods, then your porcelain veneers will not last as long. While porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, they are not impermeable so regular use of coffee, tea, or red wine can change the original color of the veneers.

Making Them Last

Porcelain veneers do have a natural lifespan and they are not meant to be permanent so they will need to be replaced eventually. You can extend time between replacing your veneers by caring for them like you would your teeth. Brushing twice a day, flossing and rinsing at home between twice yearly dental exams and professional cleanings is a great start. The regular cleaning will prevent stains from setting and prevent damage to your natural teeth under the veneers.

If you are participating in sports, consider wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth and veneers from cracking or chipping.

Do not use your teeth as tools to open bags, loosen knots, or in the place of scissors. You are more likely to introduce problematic germs in your mouth and are running the risk of chipping your teeth and/or veneers. You may create the need for another veneer by chipping a natural tooth instead of using a pair of scissors.

If the dentist has talked to you about grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, not only are you potentially damaging your natural teeth but you could need to replace your veneers faster than you expected. The dentist may have suggestions for you to address your bruxism including a simple nighttime mouth guard.

Depending on the changes that you hope to make in your smile, porcelain veneers may be the best option to make that hope into a reality. Because they are an investment, you will want to maintain them as long as possible before you have to replace them. You can count on more than a decade with your porcelain veneers when you treat them well at home between dental appointments.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?