There are two types of people who get porcelain veneers:
- Who just chase a beautiful smile (and that’s something worth chasing, by the way)!
- Who want a beautiful smile that ‘lasts long!’
The second type of people ask questions – important questions like ‘how long do porcelain veneers last?’. This means that they’re mindful about what they put their money in, and rightfully so! Congratulations if you fall into the second type! You’re approaching your dream smile with the perfect blend of excitement and wisdom! Veneers are generally expensive (as all cosmetic procedures are) so it’s important to ensure you’re getting fair value for your money.
You’d have an enchantingly beautiful smile transformation (which you undoubtedly deserve) with porcelain veneers, but would they retain their charm in the long run? That’s the real question!If they would, how many years can you expect your porcelain veneer to last, and how can you possibly extend the lifespan further?Let’s answer these questions in this blog!
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Do you have deep and dark stains, generalized discolouration, unevennesses in shape/size, gaps or similar issues in your teeth? The type of ‘aesthetic’ issues that can’t be rectified with regular cleanings and whitenings?
These issues are rather common, but they can significantly tarnish your self image and confidence in social settings, especially in societies where an attractive smile is associated with beauty. Luckily, there’s a safe and effective solution for all such aesthetic flaws and more: porcelain veneers! These are thin (typically 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters thick) and shiny white shells made of porcelain that cover your teeth.
Basically, a small amount of enamel (the outer hard layer of the teeth) is safely scraped off from the ‘front’ of your teeth, and the shells are bonded over the prepared teeth via special adhesives. This way, all those stains, discolouration, roughness, jagged ends – basically all the various flaws that you’ve been insecure about all along – are completely concealed!
All thanks is due to porcelain, whose impeccable likeness to natural tooth color make it a perfect concealer for teeth. The applied shells, though extremely thin, can transform your imperfect teeth into uniformly sized pearly whites! Besides its translucent white appearance, the strength and hardness of porcelain give it a unique edge in terms of durability. It’s so strong that a mere 0.5-0.7 thick layer can withstand the harsh biting and chewing forces relayed to it from the underlying teeth.
How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?
Speaking of strength, it’s time to revert ourselves back to the main question: How long do porcelain veneers last?
There are no set or guaranteed durability times for cosmetic procedures (as each case and usage habits are different), but averages are always calculated for the record’s sake. The same is the case with porcelain veneers; a lot of studies have documented the average lasting times to guide future treatments towards better outcomes. Let’s talk about it!
According to studies and clinical records, porcelain veneers have an average lasting of 10-15 years – that’s one and a half decades of your life! This is an incredibly impressive lasting time for a cosmetic treatment, and it speaks volumes about why more and more people are now investing in the procedure despite the high costs. It’s absolute value for money! A little math and you’d understand why this is the case. Let’s assume you pay $1000-$1500 per veneer shell (yes, you can get specific teeth veneered rather than getting a full mouth procedure), and it lasts you for 15 years. That’s just $1000 per year, at maximum! It’s pretty reasonable considering all the long term benefits you get to enjoy with this simple yet astonishingly uplifting procedure.
Factors That Affect Porcelain Veneers Lifespan
Let’s reiterate that despite the excellent average documented lifespan, there’s no guarantee that your veneers will last as long as you expect them to (i.e. 10-15 years). They could last significantly more or less.
Why’s that? Well, first of all, ‘careful usage’ is key. Your porcelain veneers are hard and strong, but they are what they are at the end of the day – ‘shells’ of porcelain. You need to be extra careful about the kind of diet you consume when you have porcelain veneers on. Very hard and crunchy foods can potentially weaken the shells, setting them up for premature breakage.
Similarly, destructive habits like opening bottle cans from your teeth, nail biting and teeth grinding can put undue stress on the veneers, lessening their strength, and ultimately their lifespan. The lifespan of porcelain veneers isn’t only determined by your usage habits (though that alone plays a huge role in it) but also due to other, less noticeable factors. Let’s go over these factors one by one:
Hygiene
We talked about diet and habits above, but there’s an equal influence of ‘hygiene’ when it comes to veneer lifespan. Keeping your teeth (and hence your veneers) clean and healthy by employing diligent brushing and flossing habits will increase their lifespan. This is crucial because decay can secretly develop around veneers, seep through the shells and make them weak (by slowly eating away the adhesive that keeps the veneer bonded to your teeth).
The result? Your veneers may fall out unexpectedly, requiring rebonding or replacement altogether.
Quality Of Porcelain
The quality of porcelain used in your veneers is also of key importance. You might assume that the shells are crafted out of some standardized porcelain material, but that’s not the case. There are differences in ‘quality’ when it comes to porcelain (though all shells are made of dental-grade porcelain), and only the shells made of premium quality will live up to the expected durability standards.
Professional Checkups
This should go without saying, but let’s make it a stated point that dental treatments (especially cosmetic ones) require consistent follow-ups. This applies equally well to porcelain veneers. There could be not-so-obvious issues with your veneers that may go unnoticed. Only dentists are adept at identifying (and rectifying) such issues before they cause actual trouble, and for that, you must go for professional checkups. So, checkups are not just a formality but can actually help you maintain your veneer’s lifespan.
Conclusion
Porcelain veneers boast an impressive lifespan, but that’s not a given. Factors like your diet, habits, hygiene and your ability to carry out professional maintenance have influence over how long your veneers will last in practice.
Curious to know more about porcelain veneers? Schedule a FREE consultation with VA Implant Clinic, a premium dental practice located in Virginia, USA. Put your queries in front of our team of cosmetic experts and pave your way to a beautiful and healthy smile!
