When you got your veneers several years ago, you loved your smile so much you couldn’t stop showing it off, and you felt so confident! You knew they were “permanent” in that your teeth were irreversibly altered, but you were also told that the veneers unfortunately don’t last forever. At some point in the future, you’ll need to replace them, but how can you tell when the time is right?
Here are some clear signs to watch out for so that you can always feel as confident as you did when you first got them.
Your Veneers Are Becoming Stained
The porcelain material used in making veneers actually does a fantastic job of resisting stains. In fact, it is more resistant than tooth enamel. With that being said, you’ll still need to clean (i.e., brush and floss) your veneers on a daily basis to keep them in pristine condition. Regular professional cleanings also remove surface stains and polish your veneers for continued brightness.
If you take these steps, you should go quite a long time before you notice staining in your veneers. However, over time, veneers can show their age by becoming less brilliant, signaling the need to replace them.
Your Veneers Crack or Chip
When you bite, your mouth produces a lot of force, so much in fact that your teeth are constructed of the hardest natural material in your body. Veneers are made of comparably strong dental porcelain. Unfortunately, as you may have found out if you chipped or cracked a tooth in the past, veneers likewise can sustain damage under certain circumstances and should be replaced if this happens.
The Tooth Under a Veneer Has Decay
When you look at a treated tooth, the veneer is what you see, but it is actually still attached to a natural tooth. Although the veneer itself cannot succumb to a cavity, the tooth underneath can. Once decay has set in, the tooth is not strong enough to sustain the veneer.
Most of the time, the veneer is removed to fix the tooth and is either replaced with a new one so that it fits the reconstructed tooth perfectly or is replaced with a porcelain crown to protect the entire tooth.
You Have Had Your Veneers a Long Time
At every dental checkup and cleaning, your dentist checks your real teeth as well as your veneers to make sure they stay in good condition. Over time, your veneers are going to have wear and tear, and this professional can identify when they become more likely to fail in the near future.
If you’ve had your veneers for 15 or longer, it is a smart idea to replace your veneers when your dentist recommends it, before you experience other more distressing signs.
By taking care of your veneers and keeping a close eye on their condition as time goes on, you have that same priceless feeling of confidence that you had when you first got them.
About the Practice
Beach Dental has served patients from Westhampton Beach, East Quogue, East Moriches, Manorville, and Westhampton for more than 20 years. Dr. Jason Parli and Dr. Alexis Gersten dedicate many hours of advanced training every year to deliver the best possible care, including veneers. Would you like to learn more about veneers? Reach out to us through our website or call our office at 631-325-0731.