This is a valid question many people have. Veneers are one of the most popular and sought after cosmetic dental procedures, and they aren’t the cheapest. So, of course we’d love them to last forever. However, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the life expectancy of a veneer is between 7 and 20 years. We offer our Beautiful Smile Guarantee because we stand behind the quality of our work and want you to feel completely confident with your new veneers before you even leave the office.
Veneers have come a long way in terms of longevity. A dentist from California, Dr. Charles Pincus, constructed the first veneers in the late 1920’s. He made them from acrylic, which stained very easily, and used denture adhesive to temporarily bond them. Movie stars in the 1920’s didn’t have the nicest teeth & cosmetic dentistry wasn’t what it is today. Some stars needed nicer looking teeth for films, so Dr. Pincus developed them as a quick fix. But, they weren’t designed to last long. Not only would they pop off easily, and susceptible to stain, they were bulky.
Today, veneers are made of stain resistant porcelain. They’re thin as a fingernail, but extremely durable and look/feel like your natural teeth.
However, as with any material, daily wear and tear is a reality.
See us for routine, preventative check-ups, so we can catch small problems before they become big ones.
Never bite into anything hard (candy, bread, almonds, etc.).
Use a soft toothbrush & a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste (ProNamel is a good example of a mild toothpaste).
Brush & floss around all natural teeth & dental work 2x daily.
Smile more often!
Veneers can help a variety of dental concerns, and require little of the natural tooth to be removed (as opposed to traditional crowns, where much of the tooth needs to be filed down to fit the new crown).
They can cover stained teeth that have not responded to whitening treatments or for those who have permanent stains from the antibiotic Tetracyline. Veneers have also been called “instant braces” because they can beautifully correct gaps, chips, and misaligned teeth. This is perfect for those who do not want to go through traditional braces or even Invisalign.
“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh
We understand veneers are a big commitment. If you’ve been thinking of getting veneers, we are here to answer any questions you may have & offer a complimentary consultation to see if they are the right choice/fit for your dental concerns.
