Dental veneers, whether made of composite or porcelain, are a treatment with high demand in Dental Aesthetics consultations. Their popularity is due to the fact that they offer a natural, fast and personalized solution to improve the appearance of the smile. But, in addition, patients value another of their essential aspects much: they are very durable.
Even so, so that we can keep them as long as possible, it is essential that the person be careful with them to avoid possible problems. It should not be forgotten that, no matter how resistant veneers offer today, they are still thin sheets of porcelain or composite. That is, they are a part adhered to the external face of the tooth, so we must take care of them as much or more than our own natural pieces.
What is the most durable type of dental veneer?
The daily care of the veneers is essential to ensure their durability, although due to the characteristics of the materials, some are more resistant than others.
Composite or Bonding dental veneers last a maximum of approximately 5 years.
However, porcelain ones are more resistant, lasting around 10 or 15 years if the person maintains them correctly.
Within this type of aesthetic porcelain veneers we usually distinguish between the two main brands –e.max and Lumineers–, both having the same duration.
Take care of your veneers like natural teeth
Do not forget that the veneers are glued to your pieces, so take care of them as if they were your own teeth.
How should dental veneers be cared for?
Despite having indicated the years that veneers last, do not forget that it is only possible to keep them in good condition if we follow a series of tips.
Therefore, we want to give you these indications related to the following aspects:
- Foods and drinks with coloring
Although this point is not important to take into account in the case of wearing porcelain veneers, it does play a fundamental role in the event that they are made of composite.
And it is that this material tends to stain with the passage of time and with the consumption of foods or drinks that have a lot of color.
For example, we refer to coffee, red wine, tea, cola, dark chocolate, red berries, curry, soy sauce …
Having composite dental veneers does not mean having to eliminate these foods and drinks from your diet, far from it.
However, in order for it to retain all its aesthetic properties, our recommendation is that you restrict its consumption as much as possible.
In contrast, porcelain veneers do not pose such problems.
This is because it is a material that does not lose its color or darken, in addition to preserving its aesthetic qualities for many years.
- Tobacco
Smoking causes stains on natural teeth, which is why it inevitably affects composite veneers as well.
Therefore, if you wear this type of dental veneers, we advise you to be especially careful with cigarettes and eliminate, or at least reduce, their consumption.
As with strongly colored foods, tobacco does not affect the tone of porcelain veneers, as this material does not stain.
Despite this, keep in mind that tobacco is very harmful to the body in general and to oral health in particular.
If cared for correctly, porcelain dental veneers can last up to 15 years and not cause any problems in your day-to-day life.
Very hard or sticky foods
It is very important to keep this aspect in mind, regardless of the material with which our veneers are made.
Any very hard food – or even sticky – is a danger for aesthetic veneers because they run the risk of detaching or, even worse, breaking.
Examples of these foods could be certain nuts or snacks (kikos, roasted chickpeas …), hard nougat, raw carrot, ice cubes .
Also, pay attention to the way you bite into sandwiches or apples.
It is common to perform a lever movement that puts the integrity of your veneers at risk, so it is preferable to break them into pieces.
Oral hygiene
Oral hygiene routines are crucial to ensure optimal oral health in every way, as it allows us to maintain healthy teeth throughout life.
In the case of dental veneers, they help preserve them and retain their aesthetic properties for much longer.
In order to have a proper daily cleaning of your teeth and gums, we give you a series of tips:
- Brush your teeth after every meal.
- Floss after every brushing or at least on the last of the day (before bed).
- Use a mouthwash before going to sleep and after brushing your teeth.
- Go to your trusted dental hygienist for a professional oral cleaning at least once a year.
Chew on objects
There are people with little hobbies that, although they seem harmless, can greatly damage teeth and veneers.
It may not be your case, but one of these vices would be, for example, nibbling on pens or nails.
Use your teeth as a tool
On the other hand, there are times when we tend to use our teeth as if they were tools to open or break certain objects, such as packaging, shells .
In the same way: be careful with these bad dental habits, as they can cost you a veneer to peel or fracture.
Bruxism splint
People with bruxism clench their teeth involuntarily, especially at night or during times of stress.
For this reason, it is always recommended that these patients wear a discharge splint to help relax the muscles of the face and avoid jaw tension.
In addition to preventing pain and wear on the teeth that contact each other, the discharge splint will prevent the veneers from breaking.
Mouth guard
Mouth guards are indicated for people who practice contact sports such as football, basketball, rugby, hockey, boxing, kickboxing or any martial art (jiu jitsu, karate, judo, taekwondo …).
But in the case of wearing dental veneers, it is a very effective protection to prevent fracture or fall in accidental shocks that occur in this type of sports.
If you have questions about what kind of mouth guard is the most suitable for you, you can consult with your dentist.
Maintenance and reviews
Although porcelain veneers do not require periodic maintenance, composite veneers do.
The maintenance consists of going to the specialist in Dental Aesthetics to carry out a polishing of the veneers.
The objective of these reviews is that the treatment lasts the previously mentioned time: 5 years.
The frequency with which these visits to the clinic should be made is set by the dentist based on each specific case.
Thus, a person who smokes should attend more regularly than a patient who does not.
Once you have the veneers already in place, it is important that you follow the instructions indicated by the specialist who has carried out your treatment.
Go to all the appointments and check-ups that I schedule you and follow all the instructions that they offer you regarding the care of the veneers.
He is the one who knows your case best, so he can give you a series of very useful and personalized advice.
