LONGEVITY OF PORCELAIN VENEERS

Some people are concerned when they read “porcelain veneers” that these dental restorations will be as fragile as the knickknacks and bibelots in their grandmother’s cabinet, but today’s porcelain veneers are the product of decades of innovation, making them stronger and longer-lasting than ever.

The first all-ceramic dental restorations were aluminum oxide cores coated with feldspathic porcelain. Many porcelain veneers were made completely of feldspathic porcelain, which gave beautiful results because their many fine layers mimicked the multi-layered luster of natural dental enamel, but they had relatively low toughness. They were brittle and had a relatively high fracture rate.

Today’s porcelain veneers are generally created using a hot-press casting technique. In this technique the restorations are cast under pressure, forcing them to form the desired shape without hollows and imperfections that can come from other manufacturing techniques such as sintering. This allows them to be predictably crafted with a very good, comfortable fit, and to have high durability, with 95% surviving 11 years or more, according to clinical studies.

In addition, here are some things you can do to help ensure the longevity of your porcelain veneers:

• Avoid chewing hard objects and non-foods, such as pens, tools, and ice
• Do not use your teeth as tools, such as pliers, a bottle opener, or a nutcracker
• Avoid abrasive toothpastes–we can recommend ones that will clean and polish your porcelain veneers without damaging them

During your consultation, Dr Chapnick will talk to you about the longevity you can expect from your porcelain veneers. Please contact Chapnick Dental to schedule a consultation at our Barrie or Toronto location.