How long do porcelain veneers last?

How Long will my porcelain veneers last?

A commonly  asked question during a consultation for porcelain veneers is; “How long will my porcelain veneers last?” Review of the scientific literature will reveal a general consensus of about 10 to 15 years and a success rate of about 93%, for that time period. However, having a clear understanding of what factors insure success, and what measures can be taken to increase longevity can add more years to your beautiful porcelain veneers.

How strong are porcelain veneers?

1. Porcelain veneers get there strength by bonding them onto your enamel. The more enamel, the stronger the bond; the stronger the bond the longer they last. Placing veneers on teeth that have already large fillings could compromise the longevity.
2. Bonding onto dentin (dentin is the next layer of your tooth under your enamel) can compromise the bond strength. If too much tooth enamel is removed then your veneers might not last as long- see Rule #1
3. Are you hard on your teeth? Do you grind your teeth? These factors can disrupt and eventually breakdown the bond between your tooth and your veneer; causing the veneer to break or debond.
4. You can still get tooth decay around the junction of your tooth and veneer. 
5. At some point, as we get older; we don’t look the same as we did 20 years ago. Same goes for our veneers- at some point they might not look as nice as they once did.
6. Lastly, veneer’s are not a commodity! All veneers are not created equal! The quality and longevity is directly related to the skill and experience of your cosmetic dentist, the ceramist making them,  the materials, and techniques being used.

Learn more about porcelain veneers here.