How Long do Veneers Last?
Maybe it’s because porcelain veneers are so thin, a shell really, that patients are concerned they may not last very long. However, the porcelain used by Baystate Dental is made specifically for cosmetic dental procedures, and is made to last.
Porcelain veneers can be used to correct several minor imperfections, including:
- Chips, cracks, and pits in teeth
- Discoloration
- Unevenly sized and spaced teeth
- Gaps
If your porcelain veneers are fitted by an experienced cosmetic dentist, they can last a decade or more. However, this includes the care that you must give them every day. Veneers are fitted by removing a very small portion of your tooth enamel and reshaping the teeth. They are bonded using a special resin, which hardens into a very strong material. Porcelain veneers are not indestructible and, like tooth enamel, can still chip.
If the porcelain chips, the part of the tooth that is left exposed may be susceptible to decay. If the resin cement is left exposed, it can stain very easily.
The best way to ensure your porcelain veneers last as long as possible is to practice good oral hygiene at home. This includes regular brushing and flossing, and seeing your dentist twice a year. You should also avoid heavy alcohol consumption because alcohol can dissolve the resin bonding your veneers to your teeth. Avoid biting down on hard objects like ice and hard candy, grinding your teeth, and other common sense habits.
If you are interested in porcelain veneers and are in the Greater Springfield, Massachusetts area, please contact the experienced cosmetic dentists at Baystate Dental PC today for an initial appointment at any of our offices conveniently located throughout Hampden and Hampshire Counties in Western Massachusetts.
This entry was posted on Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 4:44 pm and is filed under Porcelain Veneers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
