What is the average lifespan of porcelain veneers?

Today we welcome a guest blog with a leading cosmetic dentist, Dr. Bruce W. Hartley from the Los Altos area in California. His insights on cosmetic dentistry and procelain veneers are appreciated! He discussed how to have your smile with porcelain veneers last the longest. Here is Dr. Hartley:

With proper care, porcelain veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years or longer.

Maintenance of porcelain veneers is similar to care for your normal teeth. As always, make sure to floss & brush regularly, and see your hygienist 2-3 times per year for a professional cleaning. Although the porcelain itself is well immune to tooth decay, the portion of the tooth under the veneer is still susceptible to cavities. Daily fluoride rinses can protect the susceptible areas of the tooth-porcelain junction.

Over brushing can have a negative effect on the longevity of your veneers. Aggressive brushing or using anything harder than a "soft" bristle brush can cause gum recession. The resulting root exposure doesn't effect the veneer, but it can ruin the esthetic beauty of the overall case. Furthermore, it is recommended to use a non-whitening & non-abrasive tooth paste.

Be careful what you put between your teeth because whatever might crack a normal tooth could also crack a veneer (porcelain can fracture!). Don’t bite fingernails, fast food ketchup or hot sauce packets, metal, pens or any other hard object. It is recommended to use a mouth guard if playing any high intensity sports. Your dentist should provide you a protective night guard to wear while sleeping to prevent damage from night time grinding. The rule of thumb is, you can eat and bite into any and all foods as you would with natural teeth, but always avoid using your veneered teeth as a tool for non-food items!

Apart from proper care, expert installation is very important. Make sure to choose a cosmetic dentist with many years of experience

If you follow all of the above advice, your veneers should enjoy a healthy lifespan!

Bruce W. Hartley, D.D.S. http://www.pccd.net Peninsula Center of Cosmetic Dentistry Los Altos, CA

Comments

[Cecania Tallmadge]

The key to expanding your veneer's lifespan is to actually have your dentist check them regularly. Those stuff need to be cleaned out in order to keep them from corroding.

[Teeth Whitening In Atlanta]

I think the biggest issue when having veneers is not maintaining the veneers themselves but the underlying teeth. That junction between them is very important.

[Huntington Beach Dentist]

After a few years, you can see the dark lines along the cervical margins. I agree that the junction between the teeth and veneers are important.

[Beverly Hills Dentist Guy]

I can definitely attest to the negative reaction that veneers can have to aggressive brushing. I had a case come back and the patient had brushed so aggressively that the veneers began to warp. Taught me to make sure my patients fully understood the implications and the treatment necessary for their veneers.

[memphis cosmetic dentistry]

I agree. The key to extend the life of the coating is actually a dentist regularly. These things must be cleaned to keep them off the rust.

[Jen]

I really think that a good set of veneers can make a world of difference. Thanks for posting about their lifespan. I had no idea that they would last that long.

[Serena Mcelyea]

@Cecania - I agree with you. Sometimes no matter how we take care of our teeth there are still aspects that only our dentist can do. We may forget to do our usual routine to keep our teeth healthy but the dentists don't. They always know what to do whenever we sat on their dental chair.

[Susan]

I recently came across your site and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan

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