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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

How long should porcelain veneers last?

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Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth

I got 6 porcelain veneers in June 2012 when I lived in Chicago. At first, I was pretty happy with them except they didn’t look as white as I wanted. I got my teeth whitened BEFORE I got veneers and the veneers are not quite as white as my teeth. Anyway, everything was going well until the veneers started chipping in last summer. There is a little chip on my right incisor and a small one on my right front tooth. I called the dentist’s office where I got the veneers (I now live in MA) and she told me that it’s probably time to replace the veneers. I was furious. At $1200 per veneer and not even 6 years later, she tells me I probably need to replace them. I asked her how long veneers should last and she told me that the brand I chose (I didn’t choose the brand. I know nothing about how to choose a brand of porcelain veneers.) is known for chipping. First I am wondering how after 6 years she even remembers what brand I have and why she is lying about it being my choice. So I am guessing that there is another issue that she is not going to talk about. Shouldn’t porcelain veneers last longer than 6 years? Ceyda

Ceyda,

Yes, porcelain veneers should last longer—much longer—than six years. If quality veneers are properly bonded to your teeth, and if you take proper care of them, they can last 15 to 20 years. You are nowhere near the lifecycle of quality veneers, so quality must be the issue.

  • Brand – It is possible that the dentist who placed your veneers chose an inferior brand. That occurs sometimes to keep costs down and make getting veneers more enticing for patients. But as you have experienced, if they don’t last, what good is it?
  • Bonding – Another possibility is that your veneers were not correctly bonded to your teeth. It takes a lot of skill and the expertise of a highly trained cosmetic dentist to bond veneers to last. If they are poorly bonded or weak, they can chip.

Unfortunately, you probably do need new veneers. This time find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area. If you can find one who is accredited, or who has extensive training in aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry, it will help you get amazing results. Select a few top cosmetic dentists first, have consultations with them, and compare your options before you select a provider for your new veneers.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Six Things You Should Know About Porcelain Veneers before You Get Them

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Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth

Porcelain veneers can provide a stunning smile makeover, but there are six things you should know about them before making the investment.

1. Great Results Require a Cosmetic Dentist

Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic improvement to your teeth. So the dentist you choose for your smile makeover should be a cosmetic dentist—an artist. Whether you want a super-white celebrity smile or a simple, natural-looking smile that complements your face, you need a cosmetic dentist. Why? Consider the facts:

  • Porcelain doesn’t automatically produce natural-looking results. If you want a smile makeover that looks natural, you need a dentist and ceramist who know how to manipulate porcelain so it has the color, characteristics, and translucency of natural teeth.
  • Bonding techniques are critical to the life of your porcelain veneers. Veneers that are improperly bonded to your natural teeth can slip, loosen, or fall off.
  • The shape and form of your veneers determine whether they complement your lips and other facial features. Only a cosmetic dentist can refine the details.

2. They Are Permanent

Your natural teeth are prepared before you receive porcelain veneers. This involves lightly shaving them to prevent the veneers from looking bulky over your teeth. After your teeth are prepared, it isn’t possible to reverse the process. You will always need veneers or some other form of cosmetic dentistry over your teeth.

3. Don’t Ask for a Specific Brand

  • Dentists become comfortable with various brands of veneers for a variety of reasons.
  • The dentist’s skill level, the results produced, and other factors determine which brands a dentist uses.
  • Avoid asking your dentist for a specific brand. You might choose a brand the dentist isn’t comfortable with, and if you insist on it, the results might not look good.
  • Ask your dentist which brands he or she uses and why. The response can build your confidence in the dentist, instead of in a certain brand. If you select a cosmetic dentist, you can trust you’ll get great results.

4. Try Them On

You won’t have to ask a true cosmetic dentist to let you try on a trial set of your customized veneers. It will be part of the process. But you should know that in order to really see how the finished product—your porcelain veneers—will look and feel, you have to try on temporaries. If your dentist doesn’t offer you the opportunity to try on trial veneers, beware. And be certain to try on the final product before it’s permanently bonded to your teeth.

5. Ask About a Guarantee

A skilled cosmetic dentist can guarantee that you’ll love your new smile with porcelain veneers. Several factors make it possible to guarantee your satisfaction:

  • The dentist’s training, skill, and eye for beauty
  • Your dentist should ask for your feedback and preferences throughout the process of designing and creating the veneers
  • Skilled dentists use a master ceramist to craft the final product

Ask your dentist what he or she does to ensure your smile makeover will be exactly what you want.

6. Don’t Let Cost Alone Make the Decision for You

Porcelain veneers are an investment. So don’t let cost alone determine which dentist you choose. A highly skilled cosmetic dentist who uses quality materials and who is picky about the results will have higher fees than other dentists.

We recommend that you schedule consultations with at least two cosmetic dentists. If you can find an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area, you’ll likely get amazing results. Ask to see before-and-after photos of smile makeovers with porcelain veneers for actual patients of the dentist. You can get the celebrity smile—or the simple, but stunning smile makeover—you’ve always wanted.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Do I really need porcelain veneers instead of teeth whitening?

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Why would a dentist tell me I need porcelain veneers instead of teeth whitening? My teeth are really yellow. I have tried to whiten them myself but it’s hardly noticeable. I know that no one else can tell that I’ve been trying to whiten my teeth. So I gave up. 2 weeks ago I talked to my dentist about it and she told me that she can get my teeth super white. I told her that I don’t want them to be super white just natural white. She said she can get them to the white shade of my choice and she started talking about porcelain veneers and prepping my teeth. She also said that if I really want my teeth white, because they are so yellow porcelain veneers are the way to go. The problem with her reasoning is that I want all of my teeth white, not just my front teeth and there is no way I am going to spend over $1k for each tooth. This is ridiculous. I just want to know if I really need porcelain veneers or if there is another way to get my teeth white. – Artuela

Artuela – We recommend that you schedule an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist. There are several reasons why you should see a cosmetic dentist before receiving teeth whitening or porcelain veneers.

Why See a Cosmetic Dentist about Porcelain Veneers?

  • He or she will examine your teeth, do diagnostic studies if necessary, and determine the cause of the stains in them. You will also find out which treatment is best to brighten your smile.
  • Artistic cosmetic dentists have significant training and experience with whitening teeth that other dentists have had difficulty whitening.
  • If you are a candidate for teeth whitening, a cosmetic dentist will know which form of whitening will work for your case.
  • He or she may also be able to explain why porcelain veneers were recommended by your dentist. Without examining your teeth, we can’t speculate on the reason for that recommendation.

Find a few experienced cosmetic dentists—preferably accredited cosmetic dentist—in your area, and schedule a consultation with each of them. You will be more comfortable choosing a provider for your treatment after the consultations. See our blog post on what you should know before choosing porcelain veneers.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Can I get my porcelain veneers removed and go back to my natural teeth?

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Although I’ve had the same dentist since 2002, after getting porcelain veneers from him, I found out the hard way that he knows nothing about cosmetic dentistry. I guess I chose him because I trusted the other work he has done for me even though it wasn’t cosmetic. The reason I regret my decision is the way the veneers look. Although he took his time, the veneers are unnaturally square and unnaturally white. They actually look like squares. There is no way I can hide the fact that I don’t like the veneers. I don’t want to hurt my dentist’s feelings, but there is no way I can continue like this. I want the veneers off and just go back to my natural teeth, but I don’t trust my dentist to do it. I’m also concerned about going back to him for my regular checkup only for him to find out that I took all of his hard work off my teeth. What’s the best way for me to handle this? Mareesa

Mareesa – Many patients who received porcelain veneers from a dentist who isn’t highly trained in cosmetic dentistry express similar disappointment.

Can Porcelain Veneers Be Removed?

  • Unfortunately, porcelain veneers can’t be removed for you to go back to your natural teeth again. But they can be removed and replaced with new porcelain veneers.
  • The color, shape, and translucence of porcelain veneers cannot be changed.
  • A skilled cosmetic dentist ensures you’re completely satisfied with temporary veneers before they are made. You are given opportunity to wear temporary veneers for a week or two to get used to them, to let friends and family see how your new smile looks, and to decide if you love your temporary veneers or if you want any changes made.

Your description of what happened with your veneers shows that your dentist lacks sufficient skill, training, and artistry to create a beautiful smile. Even if you asked him to give you new porcelain veneers, you probably wouldn’t like the results.

We recommend that you find at least two accredited cosmetic dentists and schedule consultations with them. Each dentist will take a quick look at your veneers and let you know what he or she can do to provide you with veneers that you will love.

If you speak with your dentist, he might be able to give you at least a partial refund—if not a full refund. You can choose to use the money returned to you to get the smile you want.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

 

Dentist refuses to give me porcelain veneers and will only do crowns

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I thought I was going to get porcelain veneers until I got to my 3rd consultation with a dentist. The first 2 dentists I saw agreed that after I have a few cavities filled, I would be good to go for veneers. Yesterday I went for my 3rd consultation and the dentist said I have 3 teeth that are badly decayed. He told me if I chose veneers they wouldn’t look good nor would they last long. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea to just cover up the badly decayed teeth with veneers. He also said that he would only do crowns on me. If I insist on veneers he would ask me to see another dentist. Now I’m not sure if my first two consultations gave me good advice or if I really need crowns. Ezra

Ezra – Although x-rays can help detect cavities, it’s difficult to determine the amount of tooth decay. When the tooth is prepared for restoration and the dentist opens the area to clean out the decay, he or she might find some surprises as to the extent of decay. In that case, porcelain crowns might be recommended instead of veneers. But the decay has to be correctly assessed and treated before you can receive porcelain veneers or crowns.

Dentists decide different treatment based on their experience and judgement. Some dentists will fill the cavities with dental composite, while others recommend a dental crown to protect the tooth from further damage.

Although you’ve already spoken with three dentists, at this point it’s best to get another opinion from an accredited cosmetic dentist. An accredited dentist has passed a series of tests and exams, and submitted actual patient cases as proof of his or her skill.

After an examination and a review of your x-rays, a skilled cosmetic dentist can determine if porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns are best to restore your smile.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.