Dental veneers are transformative, bringing your smile to new heights while maintaining your natural tooth tissue. There’s a reason dental veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments. They deliver fast results that last.
Residents of Midtown Manhattan, New York, rely on Cheng H. Tai, DDS, for the highest quality cosmetic dental treatments, including dental veneers. If you’ve been considering cosmetic dentistry and want to learn more about your options, we encourage you to come in for a personalized consultation.
One of the first questions people ask about dental veneers is how long they last. That’s a simple question with a slightly more complicated answer, so let’s explore the topic in detail.
Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells that sit atop your natural tooth tissue. They cover the area of your teeth that’s visible when you speak and smile. For most people, this means the six to eight front teeth on the top row.
Veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelain and manufactured one set at a time. They’re completely customized to fit the precise contours of your natural teeth. No two sets of dental veneers are exactly alike.
More importantly, dental veneers are designed to mimic the subtle imperfections of your natural teeth. They even have a slightly translucent finish at the edges, just like natural teeth.
When it comes to predicting the exact lifespan of a new set of dental veneers, there’s no way to give a precise “expiration date.” That’s because a number of factors will determine how long your veneers last.
On average, you can expect to get 15 years or more out of your investment in dental veneers. But with excellent care, you can stretch that timeline. Protecting your renewed smile takes just a few simple precautions.
To begin, you should never use your teeth for anything other than chewing food. Forget about habits like prying open packaging or chewing on pencils when you’re concentrating.
And pay close attention to the foods you bite down on. Chewing ice is a definite no, but you should also avoid biting down on hard or sticky foods such as candy or toffee. Every time you put your teeth under undue strain, you run the risk of damaging your veneers (and to be clear, that’s also true of your natural teeth).
When you come in for your routine dental exams, Dr. Tai checks all surfaces of your teeth, including your veneers. This allows him to look for signs of decay around the edges of your veneers and check for gum disease that could pull your gums away from the surface of the veneers.
Coming in for dental exams and professional cleanings every six months reduces the risk that a dental health concern will have time to reach an advanced stage before treatment is possible.
No matter how well you care for your new dental veneers, they’ll eventually need to be replaced. At that point, Dr. Tai carefully removes the veneers and prepares your teeth for a new set. The process is the same as having your first set of veneers placed.
Of course, dental technology is continuing to advance at a rapid pace. The dental veneers of tomorrow might last even longer than the ones we rely on today. Dr. Tai is dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of cosmetic dentistry, so you’ll always have access to the latest and greatest options.
When you’re ready to discuss dental veneers in more detail, reach out to our team to schedule a consultation. Call our office today to check appointment availability, or use our online booking tool to schedule your consultation any time.
