Our smile is the first thing people notice when they see you first. However, due to genetics, improper hygiene, dental accidents, or the natural aging process, many experience tooth imperfections that may keep us from feeling more confident.
Fortunately, you can get dental veneers to transform your smile, drastically improve your self-esteem, and of course, create a more brilliant smile.
While veneers are a good investment, they are not usually a permanent solution. You can get veneers that can only last a few months, while others can serve you for up to 20 years. The main difference often lies in the type of veneers used or the brand.
Regardless of the brand of veneers you get, there are ways to make them last much longer. Read on to find out more.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells placed at the front of teeth to improve their appearance. So, how do veneers work? Veneers are used to treat cosmetic dental concerns, including chipped & cracked teeth, staining, and broken teeth. These products are often made from resin-composite or porcelain.
Depending on your needs, you may get only one veneer (in the case of a broken or chipped tooth) or get a few (often between six and eight veneers) to create symmetry. Most people get the top front eight veneers to make an even appearance.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
There are different types of veneers that you can get, all depending on your preferences and needs. There are basically three categories of veneers:
- The ones you get after the dentist takes a part of your enamel to create room for the veneers.
- The ones where the dentist doesn’t have to remove any part of your tooth to create room for the veneers.
- The ones that you get directly from the manufacturers, and no dental visits or tooth prepping is required. You can read more on our review of the best snap on veneers.
Based on those categories, exactly how long do dental veneers last? Let’s have a look at some of the most popular types:
E-Max Veneers
E-max veneers usually last between 10 and 15 years if well taken care of. Most of them even go way beyond the 15 years, and the people that go for a change afterward only do so for cosmetic purposes.
Lumineer Veneers
Lumineer veneers are known to last between 10 and 20 years. Although the manufacturer claims that the product can easily clock in 20 years, there isn’t so much long-term research conducted. However, most studies point out that the product lasts for about ten years before requiring a replacement.
Zirconia Veneers
Zirconia veneers are currently some of the most long-lasting veneers on the market and last for over 20 years. You can also extend their lifespan through proper dental care.
Extending The Lifespan of Veneers
Veneers are a significant investment. Even though the cost of veneers may be significantly high at first (depending on the brand and the number of teeth veneers needed), they may be even more expensive if you are forced to change or replace them now and then.
The best way to protect your investment would be to ensure that your veneers serve you for as long as possible. While your veneers may be built to go for several years, in most cases, this is usually just when they’re exposed to the right environment and conditions.
But how long do teeth veneers last with proper care? The short answer is that with proper care, you can extend the lifespan of veneers by over five years.
What Affects the Lifespan of Veneers?
Many things come into play if you want to have your veneers for an extended period. Some of the factors that significantly affect the lifespan and longevity of veneers include:
- The materials used on the veneers: porcelain veneers often last longer than composite veneers.
- Your dental hygiene: good oral hygiene is crucial to the longevity of your veneers. Failure to take proper care of your teeth may reduce the lifespan of your veneers.
- The condition of your teeth before installation: the condition of your teeth before veneer installation greatly affects the general lifespan of the veneers. If you only had mild dental concerns, your veneers may last longer than someone whose teeth were in poor condition.
- Mouth protection: those who engage in high-impact games and sports should take extra caution to protect their veneers. They need to put on a mouthguard before partaking in such activities to protect their veneers from damage. Regular damage from sports impact greatly affects the general lifespan of the veneers.
- Tooth grinding: People prone to teeth grinding often put excessive pressure on the veneers, reducing their general lifespan. It would also be helpful to use a mouthguard if you fall into this category.
Top Tips to Make Your Veneers Last Longer
Do you have veneers and looking for a good way to make them last longer? Here are a few things you can do:
Maintain oral hygiene
The first and most important thing to do if looking to make your veneers last longer is to ensure that you maintain proper oral hygiene. This involves everything, including regular brushing and flossing of your teeth.
If your teeth are clean, there won’t be space for harmful bacteria to live in, hence no cavities or any other dental issues. This generally has an impact on your teeth as well as your veneers, ultimately extending their lifespan.
Avoid eating hard foods
Although veneers are made from tooth-like materials, they are not exactly like teeth. While their appearance resembles natural teeth, they are not made to withstand most (if not all) of the trauma that your teeth often would.
Generally, you shouldn’t get used to eating hard foods with veneers on as they will adversely affect them. Try to maintain a lifestyle that doesn’t solely comprise such foods; otherwise, you’ll significantly reduce their lifespan.
In addition to watching out for the hard foods, you should avoid biting down on hard surfaces or using your teeth as a tool. Some people use their teeth as openers, but they might easily get damaged if you do the same with your veneers on.
Use a mouthguard
If you are actively involved in high-impact sports or have a problem with tooth grinding, it would be beneficial for you to get a mouthguard to protect your veneers. Veneers can easily get damaged, and you may be forced to look for replacements almost every other time after you’re involved in your sports or have teeth grinding issues.
Visit the dentist regularly
The best way to know the overall situation of your health would be to visit a dentist regularly. Dentists are able to detect and monitor the condition of your veneers and will advise on better veneers aftercare tactics to make them last even longer.
Visiting the dentist is also helpful. They ensure the veneers are in their rightful positions, the gum tissues are healthy, and it would be easier to detect any potential dental issues.
Give up smoking
The composite bonding used to attach veneers to your teeth can be adversely affected by tobacco. This may lead to other concerns, including stains, which don’t work well with veneers. You may want to learn more on how to whiten dental veneers should yours become stained.
Besides, smoking can be harmful to your gums and natural teeth. When your general oral health is at stake, your veneers may not last long.
FAQ
Porcelain veneers last the longest and last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. However, it is not uncommon to find porcelain veneers that have been worn for over 20 years.
Composite resin veneers last between 4 and 8 years if properly taken care of.
Temporary veneers are used as placeholders until you get your permanent set and are made to be worn for up to 10 days.
Sources
- Retrospective evaluation of the clinical performance and longevity of porcelain laminate veneers 7 to 14 years after cementation. (2019). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.thejpd.org/article/S0022-3913(18)30828-X/fulltext
- Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years. (2012). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22259802/
- Incisal coverage or not in ceramic laminate veneers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2016). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300571216301130
- Advances in dental veneers: materials, applications, and techniques. (2011). Retrieved 14 June 2022, from https://www.dovepress.com/advances-in-dental-veneers-materials-applications-and-techniques-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCIDEN
