When it comes to getting a bright smile, getting veneers is by far the best, most affordable option. But unfortunately, veneers aren’t made to last forever. The average lifespan for veneers ranges from 10–15 years for porcelain and about 5 years for resin. And regardless of what kind of veneers you have, you’ll need to know what to do for dental veneer repair.
Prevention is always the best option for avoiding unnecessary dental veneer repair expenses. It’s best to know how to take good care of your veneers. A properly fitted porcelain veneer is as strong as your natural tooth. It’s reassuring to know that proper veneer care will also keep your natural teeth healthier for longer.
How to take care of your veneers
Here are some preventative actions you can take to ensure your veneers last their full lifespan:
- Good oral hygiene: Brushing twice a day helps to prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay. This can help prevent a tooth that’s fitted with a veneer from decaying. If the tooth decays too much then it will no longer bond to the veneer. A tooth that’s too decayed to support a veneer will need crowning or extraction. So, spending an extra few minutes brushing your teeth every day is one of the best investments you can make.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Temperature changes in your mouth can cause cracks. To avoid cracks in teeth or veneers, you should avoid exposing your teeth to large temperature changes. A good example might be if you drink a cup of very hot coffee with a glass of ice water on the side.
- Don’t bite on hard things: Everyone knows that biting on hard things can cause your teeth to break. But for some reason, everyone still does it. If your teeth are very strong, you might even get away with this more than 99% of the time. But one day, your teeth won’t be strong enough to withstand the pressure. So, even if your teeth are strong, it’s better not to risk it with chewing on ice. Being careful will ensure that you can enjoy your dental veneers for many years to come.
These things will help prevent your veneers and natural teeth from breaking. But if you want to avoid other cosmetic concerns like staining, it’s best to limit things like coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking.
Temperature fluctuations in your mouth can cause both your natural teeth and dental veneers to crack.
Dental veneer repair
Now that you know what you can do to prevent future problems, it’s good to know how to fix the current problem. There are various ways a dental veneer can break, and so repairing your veneer won’t always be the same. Here’s how you can repair different problems with your dental veneers:
- Dental veneer fell off: Your veneer may have fallen off because glue failed. This can happen because your dentist didn’t bond the veneer properly. But often times these things just happen for unknown reasons. Fortunately, a veneer that came off because of bonding failure can usually be refitted without too much hassle. Another reason your veneer may have come off is that a tooth may no longer have enough surface to support the veneer. In this case you should talk to your dentist about options.
- Small veneer chip: If your veneer has a small chip, you can ask your dentist whether they’ll be able to help by filling it up. This won’t always be possible, but it’s worth asking.
- Large chip: If the veneer has a large chip, there’s a good chance your dentist will recommend that you replace it.
- Crack: If your veneer has cracked and a piece of it came off, your dentist will almost undoubtedly recommend that you replace it.
Find an experienced dentist
Dr. Stone is a specialist in tooth replacement, a Prosthodontist, and has been placing veneers and dental implants since 1991.
Unfortunately, replacing a veneer isn’t always simple. Sometimes you might even have to replace your full set of veneers so the new veneer matches the color of the rest of your teeth. This would especially be good if you’ve had your veneers for a long time as they’ve probably stained throughout the years.
But provided the veneer still looks good, ask your prosthodontist to match the color of your new veneer to your slightly stained ones. This is a good option if your veneers were still relatively new—less than 5 years old. Prosthodontists specialize in different kinds of cosmetic dentistry work. This means your prosthodontist will be able to match those colors perfectly.
