Dental veneers offer an excellent, minimally invasive solution to upgrade the appearance of your natural teeth. These thin shells can take care of a wide range of aesthetic concerns with only one treatment. Today’s veneers are thinner than ever yet still robust and long-lasting. In fact, they can keep going strong for a decade or more before requiring substitution – but inevitably, you will need to switch them out eventually.
Reasons Veneers Need To Be Replaced
So the answer is yes, veneers do, in fact, need to be replaced. There are a number of reasons why you will have to get new dental veneers. Here are some of them.
Darkening
To ensure a long-lasting smile, your veneers are bonded to your teeth with dental cement, allowing them to stay in place for years and years. With time, the cement used to anchor your porcelain veneers will darken and be noticeable. Unfortunately, there is no way to undo this discolouration, but fortunately, you can have new cement applied to bring back its original appearance.
Staining
With porcelain material, modern veneers provide excellent stain resistance; however, they are still prone to small surface scratches due to everyday wear and tear or the use of certain oral hygiene products. Unwanted food and plaque can become lodged in tiny crevices, making them appear stained. Moreover, your natural underlying teeth are still susceptible to discolouration due to the things you consume, like caffeinated drinks or dark-coloured foods.
When your real tooth discolours, it can make your veneers look duller and drabber. Unfortunately, whitening products will have no impact on the colour of porcelain veneers; hence replacing them is the only way to bring life back into your smile.
Rough Edges
Veneers don’t have special protection that shields them from everyday wear and tear because they are not your natural teeth. Thus, just like normal teeth, veneers also experience damage, such as becoming rough around the edges or wearing down. If you notice any of these signs with your dental veneer, it’s important to consult your cosmetic dentist and get new ones for replacement.
Space Between Dental Veneers and Gums
Gum disease or poor dental hygiene can lead to your gums receding and developing spaces between the veneers. Decay of the underlying tooth is also a common cause of gaps in these cases. To ensure you get back that beautiful smile, your dentist will treat any underlying issues preventing this from occurring and replace the old porcelain veneers with new ones for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Cracking And Chipping
Just as veneers will experience signs of wear and tear, such as scratches, they can also be susceptible to more severe damage, like chips or cracks. Unfortunately, visible harm cannot be repaired – the only solution is a complete replacement. If your dental veneers appear damaged in any way, it’s important that you get them replaced right away by your cosmetic dentist.
Decaying of Natural Teeth
Veneers may cover the front surfaces of your underlying teeth, but that does not mean they are immune to decay; bacteria can still find their way between a tooth and a loose-fitted veneer. When this happens, you may notice your porcelain veneers loosening as it becomes decayed. At this point, we will have to remove the existing veneer in order to treat the decay before affixing a new one. This process is necessary in order to maintain healthy dental hygiene and ensure that your smile remains bright!
Discomfort
Another important cause for replacing your veneers is if you feel discomfort in your teeth. Low-cost veneers often don’t factor the bite into consideration, which can lead to TMJ disorder and its associated symptoms such as frequent headaches and migraines, jaw ache, backache or neck pain. Eating with these poorly fitted veneers may also be extremely agonizing as they do not fit together appropriately when biting down.
Loosening
When your porcelain veneer starts to come loose, it could signify that the cement was not properly applied or the fit of your veneer is incorrect. If we can, we will try to recement it back in place; however, if there’s any damage or an improper fit, then new ones must be obtained instead.
How to Make Your Porcelain Veneers Last Longer?
Cosmetic dentistry has come a very long way and offers a wide variety of solutions for individuals with aesthetic concerns. Despite your dentist’s best efforts, if you are not diligent with your dental care, the life of your veneers will be shortened. So to ensure that you maintain its pristine appearance for longer, here are a few tips:
Proper Care
If you’re too vigorous with your dental hygiene routines, it can cause irreversible damage to your veneers over time. It is essential to treat them gently for a longer-lasting result. Use a soft bristle toothbrush with non-abrasive toothpaste for ideal results.
Despite having the latest dental veneers, you should still floss your teeth regularly. Flossing will keep your gums in optimal condition and guard against gum disease that could lead to a space forming between the veneer and gum line.
Protecting your veneers with a mouthguard will help safeguard them from deterioration and maintain their perfect condition.
Opening things with your teeth or biting on non-edibles may result in chipping and cracking of your porcelain veneers, so be sure to avoid these behaviours.
Avoid Staining Foods And Drinks
If you want to keep your smile sparkling, it’s essential to practice moderation with pasta sauces, berries, curries of all varieties, soft drinks, wine and coffee or tea. With a little care for your teeth, through moderating these items in your diet, you can maintain beautiful pearly whites!
Regular Dentist Visits
Not only is it important to visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings in order to maintain a healthy set of teeth, but your veneer check-ups are also just as crucial. Your dental specialist can inspect them and ensure that they remain flawless.
Final Word
Veneers are a great way to achieve the smile of your dreams. Yes, they need to be replaced every 10 to 20 years, but with proper care, you can make them last even longer. So if you’re looking for a cosmetic solution that is also durable, then porcelain veneers might be the right option for you. Our team of Caste Hill professionals at Beyond Infinity Dental are dedicated to providing you with a brighter and healthier smile. Get in touch with us by calling on (02) 8806 3799 today!
References
What to Know Before You Get Dental Veneers
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-veneers
What to know about dental veneers
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dental-veneers
