How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

When your tooth is damaged, there are a few different options for repair that your dentist may discuss with you. These include dental crowns, dental bonding, fillings, and dental veneers. If your dentist decides that dental veneers are the best option, you’ll likely have the choice of which material would best suit your needs.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Dental veneers are dental restorations that help to restore damaged teeth. A dental veneer is placed on top of a natural tooth that has been reshaped. The veneer is custom made for your specific tooth, allowing it to closely resemble both the look and feel of the natural tooth before it was damaged.

The Reasons You May Need a Veneer

There are a few different reasons that you may need a veneer. One common reason for veneers is damage that is caused by tooth decay. When a tooth has been damaged by decay, the dentist will need to repair whatever damage the decay has inflicted. While the decay may lead to a cavity that can be repaired with a filling, other times a veneer is needed to repair the damage when it is a little more significant.

Your tooth also may be damaged due to some form of accident, like falling or a sports collision. This can lead to a crack or chip in the tooth that is too severe to repair with dental bonding, but isn’t severe enough that an entire dental crown needs to be placed. In order to save as much of the natural tooth as possible, your dentist may decide that a veneer is the best option.

Other reasons for a dental veneer may include: worn and misshaped teeth, discoloration and spacing issues.

The Cost of Porcelain Veneers

The cost of the placement of a porcelain veneer will depend on a variety of factors. While they are generally more expensive than composite veneers, they will also generally last longer—making them a lot more cost effective over time.

How Long Porcelain Veneers Last

In order to ensure the health and longevity of your dental veneer, it is important to take care of your oral health. While the veneer itself may be made with a replacement material, the natural tooth is not. Because of this, the natural tooth can still suffer decay. When this damage becomes too severe, the placement material of the veneer may be compromised. It’s extremely important to practice good oral health, which include brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day. It is also imperative to be mindful of oral habits such as chewing ice, teeth grinding or biting fingernails as these habits can cause failure of the veneer. Your dentist may recommend a night guard to prevent fracture of the veneer.

Speak with your dentist about which type of dental veneer is right for you.

Contact West Mobile Dental Care

We'd be happy to go over you options with you and find out what the best course of action is. Contact us today, we offer a wide variety of Preventative, Restorative, and Cosmetic Dentistry including Porcelain Veneers. We're available at (251) 666-3600 or via our online contact form here.

Interested in learning more about Porcelain Veneers? Read more about typical expenses for porcelain veneers here.