How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain dental veneers can dramatically transform your appearance by giving you a perfect natural-looking smile.

These custom-made ultra-thin tooth coverings work their magic by concealing dental imperfections such as chipped teeth and stained teeth, small gaps between teeth, and less severe cases of teeth crowding.

Although porcelain veneers aren’t regarded as a permanent solution, they can last for many years, and some people never have to replace them.

26 July 2022

On average,

porcelain veneers last about 10 years. In some cases, they can rejuvenate smiles for 20 years.

How long your porcelain veneers will last depends on two things:

The skill of the dentist who placed them.
How you look after your veneers.

Choosing a Dentist for Porcelain Veneer Treatment

To get long-lasting results from porcelain veneer treatment, it’s essential that veneers are attached to teeth properly by a skilled cosmetic dentist using quality materials.

So you need to ask your dentist about their experience in the veneers procedure and whether they keep up to speed with advances in veneer technology and techniques.

Establish whether they use veneers with high-quality ceramic materials, and ask about the credentials of their ceramist – the person who will make your veneers.

Taking Care of Your Veneers

The better you look after your veneers, the longer they’ll last.

Proper care of porcelain veneers means good oral hygiene, including regular dental check-ups, and avoiding smoking, dark-coloured foods and drinks, and chewing on anything except food.

You should also wear a mouthguard for sports and get your teeth cleaned regularly by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Do Porcelain Veneers Last Longer than Composite Veneers?

Porcelain veneers may not be permanent, but they last a lot longer than composite veneers.

This is because porcelain veneers are made with dental-grade ceramic that’s stronger than the resin of composite veneers.

Composite veneers usually last three to seven years – about half as long as the average lifespan of porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers also resist staining better than composite veneers, look more natural, and are tolerated better by the gums.

When Might Porcelain Veneers Need Replacing

The porcelain veneers procedure entails removing a small amount of tooth enamel to facilitate placement of the veneers.

The veneers than act as an enamel substitute to protect your teeth, so if your veneers do eventually wear out it’ll be necessary to replace them.

Porcelain veneers may need replacing for a variety of reasons, including:

Damage as a result of a blow to the mouth or chewing on hard objects.
Decay of the underlying tooth.
Loose veneer.

You may also want to replace your veneers if adjacent teeth have become discoloured over time. This can create a visible disparity between the shade of your veneers and the colour of your natural teeth.

Veneers can’t be whitened like natural teeth, and whitening the other teeth could also result in a noticeable difference. So the veneers would need replacing to maintain an even tooth colour.

Ready to Transform Your Smile?

Porcelain veneers are a long-term investment in your smile and can last for many years with proper care.

Porcelain Veneers Sydney, as the name suggests, specialises in porcelain veneers. Call us on (02) 8045 5138 if you’re thinking about getting long-lasting veneers to transform your smile or feel your existing veneers may have seen better days.