Veneers are a long-lasting way to improve your smile. The average veneer lasts approximately ten years and more. The color of the porcelain doesn’t stain, meaning that the color of your smile will remain the same for that long. If the veneers need to be replaced for some reason, it is a reasonably simple procedure very similar in time and cost to your original veneer appointments.
Know The Material of Your Veneers
Porcelain
A porcelain veneer is a fine shell made of colored porcelain that a dentist bonds over the front surface of your tooth. Although composite veneers have several advantages, there is one area in which they cannot compete with porcelain: durability.Â
Porcelain lasts more than composite resin on the teeth. Well-maintained porcelain veneers can last until 15 years, compared to an average life of five to seven years for composites.
Composite
Composite veneers have some advantages over porcelain veneers, the main one being the cost. On average, porcelain veneers are about twice as expensive as composite veneers. In addition, composites can be fabricated while you wait, making it a same-day treatment. Direct composite veneers are sculpted on your teeth instead of in an outside lab.Â
The tooth-colored resin is applied to the teeth directly, where it can be shaped and sculpted by the dentist.
Which Factors Can Affect the Lifespan of My Veneers?
Several factors can affect the lifespan of your veneers, depending on which one you choose. Let’s take a look at what can affect their longevity:
- Material quality: Porcelain lasts more than composite veneers. But, these options are more expensive, so you’ll need to weigh the cost against the expected lifespan.
- Your Dental Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. Brushing two times a day and flossing is crucial to prolonging the life of your veneers. It is also important to have dental checkups and cleanings every six months.
- Oral Protection: If you play contact sports, be sure to wear a mouth guard to protect your veneers from chipping or breaking.
- Teeth Grinding: Grinding your teeth can put excessive pressure on veneers. If you are prone to grinding your teeth when you sleep, wear a nightguard to protect them.
- Using Your Teeth as Tools: Don’t use your teeth to try to open things that you can’t open with your hands or other tools.
- Watch Out for Hard Foods: Avoid biting into foods such as hard candy, ice, or nuts.
Work With the Best Dentist in Knoxville: Dr. Jim Erpenbach DDS
When you look for the best Cosmetic dentistry in town, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, with more than five decades of experience helping people get the smile and oral health they pursue, using the best products and amazing staff in the clinic for outstanding results. Getting your dental veneers with us is safe, quick, and in the hands of experts. Contact us today.
