Your teeth can last a lifetime with regular dental care, but living fully can take a toll on your teeth’s natural appearance. Getting porcelain veneers or composite veneers offers a way to change the size, shape, and colour of your teeth. However, most patients want to know how long do composite veneers last before they schedule this cosmetic dentistry treatment.
How Long Do Composite Veneers Last?
The materials your veneers are made from significantly impact their longevity. There are two main types of veneer material: composite and porcelain.
Composite veneers’ resin material determines how long composite veneers last. Composite veneers last approximately five to seven years. However, they are more vulnerable to wear and tear than porcelain veneers and the resin material stains more easily.
Most porcelain veneers last at least ten years on average, although 83% of porcelain veneers last 20 years or more. Maintaining good oral hygiene and attending frequent dental check-ups are crucial for the long-term health of your porcelain veneers.
The Benefits of Porcelain Veneers vs. Composite Veneers
Porcelain veneers provide a natural-looking improvement to your smile with no further upkeep. These veneers offer several advantages over composite veneers, including:
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Stain-resistance
Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers are less likely to stain than composite veneers due to their non-porous structure. To avoid staining your porcelain veneers due to tartar build-up, brush twice a day and floss once a day to maintain optimum oral health.
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Offer a natural appearance
Your dentist takes intraoral scans and 3D images of your mouth to create porcelain veneers. These images can help the dental laboratory customise your porcelain veneers based on your facial aesthetics. This means the contouring and colour of the porcelain veneers look and feel like your natural tooth enamel.
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Enhances the overall appearance of your smile
Porcelain veneers can be customised to match your teeth’s natural shade, so your smile looks uniform. This is ideal for discoloured, crooked, or chipped teeth. They can also help boost your confidence by closing the gaps between your teeth.
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A comfortable, custom fit
Getting porcelain veneers requires two visits. Your dentist must first assess your teeth to see if you’re a candidate for porcelain veneers. Then, they shave off a thin layer of tooth enamel to accommodate the veneer shell. They take an impression of your mouth to make a model of the porcelain veneers, which is sent to a dental laboratory.
You need to schedule a second visit so your dentist can cement the customised veneers to your teeth. Although you need to return twice to the dentist, these appointments are short, resulting in long-lasting porcelain veneers.
How to Make Your Porcelain Veneers Last Longer?
You should treat porcelain veneers as if they were natural teeth to ensure that they last as long as possible. Follow these steps to maintain your porcelain veneers:
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Keep up your oral hygiene
Cleaning between your teeth once a day with re-threaded floss, a water flosser, or a dental pick is just as important as brushing twice a day. An electric toothbrush is an excellent tool for getting your teeth clean. Your dentist can show you how to brush and floss with your new veneers.
A lack of dental hygiene can also lead to gum disease. This can cause your gums to recede, making the veneers more vulnerable to chipping or detaching.
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Ensure you use the right toothpaste and toothbrush
Composite veneers are slightly porous and more prone to staining than smooth porcelain veneers. Regular oral hygiene is crucial to prevent discolouration, but you need to use the right brush to avoid damaging your veneers.
You should brush your veneers using a soft toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste to avoid damaging the surface of your veneers. Your dentist can advise you on the appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush products to use.
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Wear a mouthguard
Similarly, if you grind your teeth while sleeping, you may need a nightguard.
If your veneers are damaged from a sports incident or an accident, contact your dentist immediately for an appointment.
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Take care not to bite into hard food and objects
Raw carrots, apples, hard chips, and meat cuts containing bones can make your porcelain veneers more vulnerable to chipping. If you chew on ice or open packages with your teeth, the pressure can damage your teeth and veneers.
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Keep up with regular dental visits
Your dentist can check the state of your veneers and address any oral health issues such as gum disease. They can look for chips, cracks, or deteriorating bonds between your veneers and your teeth and address them right away.
Achieve a Winning Smile With Available Dental Care
If you want to increase the lifespan of your veneers, then you need to maintain them. Porcelain veneers can update your smile naturally and last longer than composite veneers with the proper maintenance and regular dental visits.
If you are unsure which option to choose to improve your smile and want to ask our dentist how long do composite veneers last, call us on (02) 4062 8763 to book an appointment.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22259802/
Porcelain Veneers vs Composite Resin Veneers: A Review
https://www.journaljammr.com/index.php/JAMMR/article/download/30784/57635/
Porcelain vs Composite Veneers: Which Are Better for You?
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/veneers/composite-veneers-other-options