The End of the Road? When Dental Veneers Lose Their Lustre
Posted on: 21 May 2019
What are you hiding? When it comes to dental veneers, they're there to hide a problem on the underlying tooth. But such is the natural result of veneers that nobody is going to know that your smile has something to hide. It might not be this way forever though. Veneers are porous (although not in the same manner as your natural teeth), meaning that they can lose their colour over time. They can also be affected by general wear and tear, which means that their effectiveness can diminish over the years. There's also the fact that your veneers might gradually take on a different colour to your natural teeth. But what can you do when veneers are no longer as bright and natural-looking as they once were?
Plates and Bowls
The longevity of your veneers, along with their susceptibility to discolouration can be linked to the material used in their construction. Consider your plates and bowls. A plastic dining plate can be more easily scratched and can noticeably lose their lustre when compared to a ceramic plate. This can be comparable to veneers. Porcelain veneers can last for at least ten years, and even longer with good dental habits. Veneers made from a dental composite — which is a form of plastic — might have a shorter lifespan as well as being more porous, which can make them more prone to discolouration.
A Mismatch
This discolouration generally only becomes truly problematic when it results in a mismatch with the colour of the enamel on your surrounding teeth. This might be amplified when you whiten your teeth, either with a whitening toothpaste or a home whitening kit. Does this mean that in the name of uniformity, you need to maintain your teeth at the same shade as the veneer? This might not seem like an ideal solution when your dental veneers have become discoloured.
The End of Their Lifespan
It takes time for natural dental enamel to discolour, although this process can be sped up by prolonged contact with substances notorious for staining teeth, such as nicotine, coffee, and red wine. When your veneers lose their whiteness, you should think about just how long you've had them. This gradual loss of whiteness can be a sign that your veneers might have reached the end of their lifespan. Talk to your dentist about whether it's time to replace them.
Veneers can last for such a long time that it's easy to just think of them as a permanent fixture. This is not the case though, and when your veneers have lost their lustre, replacing them might be the best way to restore your smile. Call your dentist to discuss the longevity of your dental veneers for more information.
Share