How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneers can last a long time. In one long study, about 93 out of 100 veneers had not failed after 10 years. About 83 out of 100 made it to 20 years.

The study came from Beier and colleagues at Innsbruck Medical University in Austria. They followed 318 veneers in 84 patients and published the results in the International Journal of Prosthodontics in 2012.

So a veneer can wear out, and many last for decades. How long yours lasts depends on a few things you and our team can control.

What is a porcelain veneer?

A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain. Your dentist bonds it to the front of a tooth to change its shape or its color.

Porcelain is hard and smooth, so coffee and red wine stain it less than they stain bonding. We compare the two side by side in veneers or bonding, which one fits.

What breaks a veneer?

In the Innsbruck study, a crack or chip in the porcelain was the most common reason a veneer failed. Two groups of teeth failed more often than the rest.

• Teeth in people who grind or clench at night.
• Teeth that were no longer alive inside, such as a tooth that had a root canal.

Grinding is the one you can do the most about. A night guard worn to bed takes that force, so the porcelain does not have to.

Everyday habits count too. Porcelain is a kind of ceramic, and one hard, sharp bite can chip it.

• Chewing ice.
• Biting your nails or a pen.
• Opening a bag or a bottle with your teeth.

What helps veneers last longer?

Most of it is the same care you give your other teeth. Brush twice a day and floss once a day.

The edge where the veneer meets your tooth needs the most attention. Plaque likes to collect there, and the tooth under a veneer can get a cavity like any other tooth.

Come in for your checkups and cleanings. At each visit we look along the edge of every veneer for wear, stain or a gap.

If you play hockey, basketball or a pickup game at the park, wear a sports mouthguard. A ball or an elbow to the mouth is how a lot of front teeth get chipped.

Can gums change how veneers look over time?

Yes. Gums can pull back a little with age or with hard brushing.

When that happens, the edge of a veneer can start to show as a thin line near the gum. A soft brush and gentle strokes help protect the gum line, and a new veneer can cover a line that shows.

How do veneers compare with bonding?

Bonding is the other common way to fix a chipped or stained front tooth. Cleveland Clinic says dental bonding usually lasts 3 to 10 years before it needs a touch up or a redo.

Next to the veneer numbers above, porcelain is the longer lasting choice for most people. Bonding costs less up front, takes one visit, and can be repaired in the chair.

What are the signs a veneer is wearing out?

A veneer seldom fails all at once. Most give a warning first, and a small problem caught early is easier to fix.

• A chip or a crack you can feel with your tongue.
• A dark line along the edge near the gum.
• A veneer that feels loose or clicks when you bite.
• A tooth under a veneer that turns sensitive to cold.
• Gums around one veneer that look red or bleed when you brush.

Call us if you notice any of these. Bring it up at your next cleaning if it is small, like a faint line.

What happens when a veneer wears out?

A worn veneer does not mean a lost tooth. Your dentist takes off the old shell and bonds a new one in its place.

To fit the first veneer, a thin layer of enamel is usually shaped away. Enamel does not grow back, so that tooth will need a covering of some kind for life.

Plan for that before you start. Ask how much of each tooth will be shaped, and what a replacement would involve years from now.

Getting veneers in Bucktown

Our office is at 1908 N Western Ave in Bucktown, near the Western Blue Line stop. It is an easy trip from Wicker Park and Logan Square.

At a cosmetic consult, we look at your bite, your gums and any grinding wear first. Those three things tell us a lot about how long veneers will last on your teeth.

Our page on porcelain veneers in Chicago walks through what a veneer visit looks like, step by step.

Come see us

If you want to know how long veneers would last on your own teeth, come in and ask. Call our front desk or tap Book Now at the top of this page.