Many of them want to know if it can be broken easily. Porcelain veneers are resilient, long-lasting and do not need to be replaced for years. However, it is important to break a few habits to properly care for them or they can get chipped or cracked.
Veneers are designed to be tough, but they're not indestructible. Like any type of dental restoration (or like natural teeth, for that matter), veneers can chip and break. The likelihood of a break depends on the type of veneers you have.
Most veneers are quite durable due to how they are made. They can easily last for 10-15 years or more with proper care and maintenance. Even though veneers are strong, it is possible for them to break or crack if they experience trauma. Veneers can be chipped like a regular tooth if enough force is applied to it.
Potential Causes of Chipped Veneers
By contrast, your average composite veneer may last 3 to 5 years. As your veneers get to the end of their natural lifespan, they may be more prone to chipping. With that said, several behaviors could cause your veneers to chip at any time.
Porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, porcelain veneers' average lifespan is about 12 years. But the long-term success of veneers depends on several factors, including: Quality of the veneers.
One of the best things about veneers is that they are incredibly durable. Most veneers are made of porcelain, which you may think of as delicate material when you think of porcelain dolls or the like. However, when the thin porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth, the materials becomes as strong as your real teeth.
With reasonable precautions, dental veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years. While you can eat almost anything you like, it is important to exercise reasonable precautions because dental veneers are not indestructible. Porcelain is a glass and can shatter with excessive pressure.
Without proper bonding, the veneers could chip or break off. Another indication of improper bonding is any apparent margin between the gums and the veneers; you may be able to see the underlying tooth. With time, the forces of chewing with eventually cause the veneers to fail.
Some of the reasons Dental Veneers may chip or break are: Trauma to the tooth. Grinding of clenching of teeth. Problems with bite alignment.
Depending on the severity of the chip, dental recontouring could buff it out. We'll also apply some light buffing to your other veneers, so your smile looks natural and even. If the crack is more significant, porcelain veneers cannot be repaired, and the best solution is to craft a replacement.
Depending on the state of your veneer, your dentist may be able to reattach it. It can even be repaired with composite resin if it's slightly damaged. However, that is not ideal because the material isn't as durable as porcelain. In most cases, it may be best to simply order a replacement.
In most cases, as long as the veneer layer is basically in good shape, the thinness that makes it damage-prone also makes it easy to repair. Undamaged veneer can be reglued; chips and bare spots can be filled with matching veneer. If you're careful to match the grain the repairs will hardly show.
You need to check the color and shape beforehand. There are a few exceptions in which patients want to reshape the edge of their porcelain veneers, maybe too long, or make the corners more rounded; this can be done and accomplished by an expert dentist.
Most people do not have any regrets about moving forward with veneers. If anything, they regret having waited so long to correct their smile. Veneers can erase years and years of insecurities and confidence issues.
Porcelain veneers are built to last long and withstand a lot. However, they do not have the tensile strength of natural teeth; they are also invulnerable to breaking. If you must eat hard foods, try moving them to the back of the mouth.
Gluing your veneer back yourself will do more harm than good. The glue you have at home isn't suitable for dental bonding, so your veneer is unlikely to stay in place for long. Dentists use approved dental glues and cement for attaching veneers.
As soon as you have collected and secured the pieces of your veneer, give your dentist a call. If your newly exposed tooth is damaged, you may require emergency dental care the very same day. If your circumstance is less urgent, your dentist will schedule time to see you within the next few days.
Most porcelain veneer emergencies involve the situation where the restoration has either: Fractured – Broken, cracked, crazed, chipped, etc…, with usually some portion of the restoration, possibly of relatively large size, coming off. Completely debonded – All of the veneer has come off. (Hopefully as an intact unit.)
Many Veneers Can Be Repaired
For chips or cracks that are not too significant, we can use a specialized dental resin to repair the veneer. We'll have you come in, and we'll closely examine the damaged veneer. We'll clean the surrounding area and then carefully apply the resin to the damaged area.
If you do not have the veneer, (perhaps you swallowed it or misplaced it) the procedure is much more involved. You must go to the dentist for fabrication of a new veneer, as well as coverage of the tooth by a temporary veneer. You will have to cover the cost of the veneer's replacement.
The veneer treatment helps hide imperfect teeth by covering them with custom-created surfaces bonded over them, lasting for ten to 20 years. If you get traditional veneers customized from porcelain, you can expect the surfaces to last for two decades or more after installation over your teeth.
A dental veneer is a clean slate to keep good habits going forward. A dental veneer needs the same daily cleaning as natural teeth. Some foods and habits may increase wear on the veneer. Just as with regular teeth, sugary drinks and acidic foods contribute to damage.
Veneers are durable surfaces with the material having five, 10, or 20 years of longevity. However, you must replace them eventually when you think they are too old or notice damage on them that impacts your smile. As veneers age, they change shape, develop cracks and breaks and cause the gaps to widen.