Knowing how long dental devices last is an essential part of deciding whether or not to get them. Here’s everything you should know about the lifespan of veneers, including what can make them fall off, and what you can do to minimise the risk.
How Long Do Veneers Usually Last?
The lifespan of a veneer depends on the type you get.
Composite resin veneers usually last 7-10 years and are more affordable than other options. Most people can get these installed in just two visits – one to take measurements and gather the information needed to make the veneers, and the other to install them.
Porcelain veneers usually last at least ten years, with some people reporting that they can stay on for up to 30 years. Like real teeth, the useful lifespan of veneers depends on how well you take care of them. If you mostly avoid hard foods and practice good dental hygiene, porcelain veneers will probably last much longer.
So, do veneers fall off over time? Sooner or later, yes. Every veneer will eventually fall off.
Why Might They Fall Off?
There are several reasons why veneers could call off.
Age
The first reason, and ultimately the most common, is that the veneer is too old. Modern veneers have excellent lifespans, and those have increased thanks to advances in the industry, but they are ultimately still temporary coverings. When this happens, the best thing to do is to ask your dentist what they recommend.
Impacts
The next reason why veneers can pop off is due to impacts. Veneers are designed for you to chew normally with them, so regular activities in the mouth won’t dislodge them. However, sudden impacts on your face or unusually striking your teeth could send stress fractures through the veneer and into the bonding material holding it to your tooth.
The bonding agent, typically dental cement, is ultimately a weak point between the veneer and the tooth itself. If it’s crushed or pulled too hard, it will fail. This usually requires replacing the entire veneer, a process that can take up to several weeks.
Hard foods like chips and some types of popcorn can also cause impacts on a veneer, although these usually aren’t as severe as something like being struck in the face by a ball.
Grinding
Grinding your teeth can put pressure on a veneer over time. This isn’t as sudden or as severe as an impact, but like most non-organic treatments, veneers can’t repair themselves. Slow and steady pressure from grinding will eventually wear them down and then pop them off.
This is such a common issue that most dentists do not recommend veneers if you grind your teeth.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods can pull veneers away from their bonding agent and the surface of your tooth. This is usually a milder problem than grinding, but veneers aren’t designed to be pulled directly away from a tooth unless you want to remove them. As a result, eating foods like taffy can make a veneer come off.
How To Avoid This Problem
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Do veneers fall off?”, let’s look at some things you can do to minimise the problem.
Watch What You Eat
Most threats to veneers are food-based. The easy solution to this is to watch what you eat and focus on safer foods. The ideal foods for eating with veneers include cooked vegetables, eggs, pasta, and anything else that’s soft and generally not too hot or cold.
Noticeably hot and cold foods can damage the bonding agent holding veneers in place, so try to let things cool down, or warm-up, when possible.
Protect Your Face
Impacts aren’t as common a threat as foods, but they can knock a veneer off much faster. If you’re in a situation where something could hit your face, take any reasonable measures to prevent this. For example, you can wear masks while playing sports. Even a simple mouthguard can blunt the force of an impact enough to protect your veneers.