How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneers are beautiful and durable. These dental appliances typically last about 10 to 12 years, but they may last even longer with exceptional care and oral hygiene.

How Porcelain Veneers Work

Porcelain veneers are thin sheets of high-quality material that wrap around your forward-facing teeth. These appliances can cover many dental flaws, including discoloration, misalignment, gaps, chips, and irregular shapes.

How Dentists Create Porcelain Veneers

Before making your veneers, Dr. Leland or Dr. May will invite you to a consultation. You will review your expectations and the results you wish to see. After choosing a shade for your veneers, the dentist will take physical or digital impressions of your teeth.

Next, the dentist prepares your teeth by removing a thin layer of tooth enamel. Removing enamel allows the veneers to fit flush against your teeth for a natural appearance.

After preparing the teeth, the dentist takes another set of impressions. The dentist will use this data to design your veneers. The dentist will send you home with temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth.

When your veneers return from the dental laboratory, your dentist will adjust the veneers to ensure a perfect fit and cement them to your teeth. You will experience an instant smile transformation.

Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

Correct Teeth's Appearance in Two Simple Appointments

Veneers make improving your appearance easy. If you were to undergo a complete smile makeover encompassing multiple cosmetic procedures, you would spend significantly more time and money. With veneers, you can finish the process in two appointments.

Luster and Shine Like Natural Enamel

The porcelain material used for veneers creates a gorgeous appearance with all the natural beauty of healthy enamel.

Stain-Resistant

Porcelain stains much less readily than natural enamel or composite veneers.

Caring For Your Porcelain Veneers

These simple habit changes will protect your veneers from chipping and breaking.

• Brush and floss as your dentist instructs, and visit them regularly for check-ups.
• Avoid highly pigmented foods and beverages like red wine and coffee as much as possible, and brush your teeth immediately if you consume them.
• Avoid using your teeth as tools.
• Avoid overly crunchy foods like nuts and popcorn kernels. Do not chew ice, pens, or fingernails.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veneers

Are porcelain or composite veneers better?

Composite veneers are more flexible and customizable, but porcelain has an advantage in appearance. Porcelain veneers also last nearly twice as long as composites and are much less prone to stains.

Do I have to keep replacing veneers when they wear out?

The porcelain and composite veneer processes involve removing a layer of enamel. To prevent damage, you will need to continue replacing the veneers for the life of your tooth.

Call Leland Dental

Porcelain veneers can help transform your smile by correcting several aesthetic issues at once. Call our Hanover, MA, office today at 781-826-8395 to learn more about veneers and schedule your in-office consultation.