How Long Do Veneers Last?

Most cosmetic dental treatments are fairly expensive, so it's only natural to wonder how long your investment will last. Veneers are one of the most common cosmetic treatments available, so how long do veneers last?

On average, a porcelain veneer will last for 5-6 years, but with proper care the veneers can last for 10 years or more. Moreover, as the technology for developing veneers advances, the lifespan of the dental enhancements is bound to increase. Besides, just like natural teeth, the veneers are also vulnerable to damage depending on the magnitude of pressure they are subjected to.

If a veneer comes off or breaks, the patient should carefully store the missing pieces and report to the dentist's office for repair or re-attachment. When the broken veneer cannot be re-attached or repaired, the dentist may decide to go for other alternatives, such as cosmetic bonding and dental crowns. Luckily, there will be no discomfort when the veneer comes off or breaks.

Even if the veneers last for decades, they will ultimately need to be replaced. The second replacement process involves another round of enamel removal and individuals who suffer some form of enamel erosion before the first treatment will never have enough material to support the second replacement.

Many people opt to have their veneers replaced after a number of years as the original colour they had no longer matches their natural teeth. Unfortunately, you cannot whiten porcelain veneers so they usually need to be replaced to ensure your smile looks as good as possible.

For such people, the dentist will consider alternative restorations, such as dental crowns or cosmetic bonding. Patients should clearly understand the consequences of opting for the procedure before accepting the first set of veneers – if they are not willing to opt for different treatment options in the future, then they should not accept the procedure because it would alter their teeth permanently.