If you have dental veneers, you should be proud of the way your teeth look—your porcelain veneers are matched to your teeth color, bonded seamlessly to your teeth, and help you keep functionality of your mouth. Although veneers will eventually need to be replaced, you can extend the lifespan of your veneers by maintaining good oral health. How often should your veneers be replaced?
Ten to Fifteen Years
Your veneers, with proper placement, care, and maintenance, will likely last ten to fifteen years. This will depend on your oral health habits as well as the placement of your veneers. Getting your veneers installed by a dentist who takes the time and care to understand your mouth and give you the perfect placement of your veneers is important. You have a role to play in the lifespan of your veneers, too, though. With proper care, your veneers could last up to twenty years or maybe even longer! How can you extend the lifespan of your dental veneers?
How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Veneers
You can maintain your veneers by keeping up with regular oral health practices—you’ll still need to brush, floss, and visit your dentist. It’s important to brush properly and not brush your teeth hard. Hard brushing could damage your veneers (as well as your natural teeth) over time. Gentle brushing with a quality toothpaste is important. Avoid drinks that can be destructive to your veneers, namely soda and alcohol, as much as possible. You can also protect your veneers by not misusing your mouth. Your mouth was meant to bite, chew, and grind up food—it’s not meant to chew ice, crack nuts, or bite on inedible objects like pencils and pens. Engaging in all of these practices can be very damaging to your dental veneers.
You and Your Dentist Make a Good Team
While you can engage in healthy oral practices to make your veneers last longer, you’ll also need to team up with your dentist in order to create a longer lifespan for your veneers. Your dentist can give youthe care you need during regular checkups, and ensure that your veneers are doing fine. Your dentist may look for cracks or chips, and your dentist should also check whether or not you’ve been grinding your teeth. An improper jaw bite can be very damaging to dental veneers, therefore creating grinding or improper use of your veneers. If you grind your teeth, your dentist should be able to tell, and can talk with you about how to protect your teeth from grinding and even help prevent it. Grinding can cause headaches, jaw pain, and it can crack or chip your veneers, leading to early replacement.
Your dental veneers were meant to last at least ten years, but could last as many as twenty! By taking care of your oral health and visiting your dentist, you can ensure that your dental veneers last a long time, and keep your smile looking great for years.
