What happens when your veneers get old? How to tell if your veneers are old? As we know, veneers are not forever and you may need to replace them eventually. Lasting time varies according to your habits and the material but, in any case, you will need to replace them, be it 5, 10 or 20 years later.
But how do you notice when they’re old? Signs of old veneers vary and come in different forms. From a change in shape and color to stains, cracks, and breaks. If you’re curious about this subject, after reading this article you will be able to understand when it’s time to call your dentist.
What happens when your veneers are old?
The lasting time depends from person to person, but the average lifespan of veneers is usually 10 years. But, if you take good care of your teeth and veneers you can make your dental veneers last for possibly 15 to 20 years.
There are some signs to understand if your veneers are old and it’s finally time to change them. You can recognize them easily. Here’s what happens when your veneers are old and the signs to check for:
- Are your old veneers showing signs of wear?
- Have your old veneers changed in shape?
- Do they have cracks or breakage?
- Did you notice your veneers are stained or discolored?
- Are there gaps between your gums and your veneers?
- Are the veneers slightly loose?
- Did they fall out?
Now, let’s analyze one by one these questions!
Are your old veneers showing signs of wear?
Do your porcelain veneers look dull and not as shiny as the time when you first got them? Perhaps the porcelain shells have lost their light-reflecting qualities. If you notice your smile is not as bright you shouldn’t worry. This is not an urgent matter but definitely a sign of wear and a sign your veneers are getting old. Also, they may look slightly opaque or with stratches.
Have your old veneers changed in shape?
Veneers can become dull around the edges, or in dentistry terms, around the occlusal surface. This in return will cause the overall shape of your veneers to be changed from their original status. Sometimes the worn-down edges will be so drastic that it will make your veneers appear small – which is the opposite effect of what they are meant to achieve. Sometimes the corner of the veneers just break creating a not so appealing shape and may create discomfort.
Even if this problem may not seem important to you, it is an important factor point out veneers getting old. If you don’t change your veneers, there may be more cracks and breakage in your future. This may require an emergency visit to the dentist.
Do they have cracks or breakage?
Dental veneers are long lasting. The materials allow for veneers to last even up to 20 years. However, how you treat your veneers also changes the lasting time. You should know by now how to take care of them. But, if you’re not following the dentist advice, you may reduce the time spent with your beautiful new veneers. If you are not careful with your veneers and you bite down on hard objects or use your teeth for cutting tape, cracking things, or opening packages, your veneers will get damaged and get chipped or cracked pretty soon.
Did your noticed you veneers are stained or discolored?
If you see any appearance of discoloration of your veneers, like if they get more yellowish or darkened if there are any stains visible on them,
These wear signs show that your veneers themselves are getting old and worn down. It is best to replace veneers to continue to get the best use out of them.
Are there gaps between your gums and your veneers?
What if you start seeing some space between your veneers and your gums? If your gums start receding, it could be a sign of gum disease. This could occur if you do not take proper care of your oral health. If you neglect your dental care routine, your gums might start receding and create a gap between your teeth and veneers. Some other times, gum recession is due to aging. With aging your gums start receiding while the crown stays put. This may create space between them.
Gum recession will make veneers look displeasing to the eye. It creates a difference in color between the veneers and the root that is exposed under the gum tissue. When this happens you might find that your veneers have become uncomfortable to wear and feel like they are old. We suggest to contact your dentist to have the veneers replaced.
Are the veneers slightly loose?
If you notice your veneers feel loose you may need to give a touchup to the dental cement in most cases. But what if this is not the case? What to do when your veneers feel loose? Can veneers fall off?
When you take good care of your dental veneers over time by practicing a proper oral hygiene regimen, your real teeth underneath the veneers should remain strong and healthy throughout the years.
However, If your natural teeth decay underneath your veneers over time, your dental veneers might become detached from the tooth surface. This can cause veneers to become loose and feel unstable in your mouth.
Also, you may notice the veneers getting a black hue. This may be a sign of decay and it’s time for a visit to the dentist.
What happens if your old veneers fall out?
When you got your veneers the first time, any wrong application might affect your veneers’ health over time.
For example, while installing your dental veneers, if your dentist did not remove enough natural tooth enamel or if they removed too much, (sometimes what is referred to as ‘over-preparing’ the teeth) this could lead to problems for your dental health in the long run like veneers coming off. This might force you to change your veneers sooner or go to costly procedures to fix the problem.
Or if there was a weak adhesive used while bonding your veneers to your natural teeth, they will come off sooner than they are meant to be even if there is no other problem.
Conclusion: what happens when your veneers after 20 years?
The dental veneer process is a long-lasting but nonetheless impermanent cosmetic procedure. So when it comes to veneers after 10 years or veneers after 20 years you should be aware and check for signs of aging or wear. Even if you take very good care of them, one day they will look and feel old and not great. You will see tell-tale signs of wear when this time comes, like staining, chipping, or discomfort while wearing your veneers. You might also experience other more concerning symptoms like veneers becoming loose or coming off entirely, or the area between the teeth and gums being exposed due to an underlying gum issue.
All of this indicates that your veneers are worn down. You should consult your dentist at this point to discuss what kind of actions you want to take.