How long do veneers last?
This is perhaps the most often asked question and one of the most difficult to answer. On average veneers last about 10 years but they can last 20+ years easily.
It boils down to how well they were done and how well they are looked after.
Veneers stuck to teeth that have been heavily ground down will simply not last as long as stuck to teeth where the reduction has been minimal and we are still sticking to hard outer coating enamel of teeth. This means some of the “instant makeovers” done on very crooked teeth that we see on TV may make great viewing because of the level of transformation… but they are destined for limited longevity and possibly more problems. We shun these practices and you can
read more about our concept of biologically friendly cosmetic dentistry here.
The other side of the equation is simply maintenance, both at home and with regular visits to the dentist so we can pre-empt and deal with any problems before they cause the veneers to fail.
What are veneers made of?
Veneers can be made of either
porcelain,
composite or a newer material called
Zirconia. Each material has its pros and cons and is used depending on what the patient wants and what is possible.
Porcelain has been the most used material and is still considered to be the one of the most durable materials. At Hello dental Colchester we use a new kind of porcelain called lithium disilicate (branded as e-max) which is not only very strong but also gives us excellent aesthetics.
Composite is a resin filled material, which is used as white filling material. Like any plastic/resin material it has always been prone to staining and discolouring with time. However over the last 10 years newer
specialist materials for front teeth have been developed that, used and polished correctly, are very resistant to staining and discolouration. At Hello Dental we use a range of different composite materials depending on the situation. Our composite materials are heavily researched for the correct physical properties (strength, flexibiltiy etc.) and are sourced from leading manufacturers in Japan (Majesty by Kuraray), Italy (HFO) and United states (Re-enamel by Cosmedent).
Zirconia Veneers are the most recent veneer material to have been developed. Zirconia is incredibly strong and is the same material that is used to make artificial diamonds such as Swarowski diamonds. While it is very strong it
currently lacks the translucency and depth of true porcelain. It is modified by a layer of porcelain to improve its appearance on the outside and where there are concerns about a persons heavy bite, tooth clenching or grinding the compromise in appearance is often acceptable. As zirconia continues to evolve newer translucent shades are beginning to show great promise and our lab Ceramtech is at the fore-front of this technology.
What are instant or “same-day” veneers?
As dental composite technology and techniques have improved, the strength and stain resistance of the material has improved considerably. Using different composite materials and advanced layering techniques, at hello dental Colchester we are able to create veneers directly in the mouth. We would still go through a customised planning and mock up stage so you are able to see what the end result would look like before you have the final veneers made.
Because the process is shorter and there isn’t a significant lab stage, the cost of composite veneers, or instant veneers, is roughly half the cost of porcelain veneers. However they do require more maintenance to maintain their look and are more prone to chipping then porcelain. Therefore they are not suitable for everyone. However they do have the significant advantage that they are the least invasive form of veneers often done with no anaesthetic and no grinding down of the teeth. With our Waterlase laser technology we can even sculpt the gums at the same time with no anaesthetic needed.
Also unlike porcelain veneers they are very easy to repair and it often only takes a few minutes. We consider them to be the most “tooth friendly” form of veneers and we have invested a great deal of time and training learning how to use the material to its very best.
