Porcelain veneers are an irreversible procedure, which sometimes makes people worried about whether or not the colour will last or how long will Porcelain veneers will last.
If you have good hygiene and oral habits, you probably won’t need to worry about the discolouration of your veneers.
However,
Time and some bad habits could wear the glaze on top of them… That’s where the question: “Can porcelain veneers be whitened?” comes in.
What’s the answer to this question, and what other options do you have? Keep on reading and find out!
Whitening dental veneers: is it possible?
The straight-up answer to this question is that, sadly, dental veneers cannot be whitened. Professional whitening procedures are not compatible with porcelain. And at-home whitening methods can, at best, prevent pigments from sticking to your piece.
The good news is that, although composite veneers can discolour over time, porcelain veneers will hardly do so since they are the most resistant to stains.
Even so,
If the porcelain veneers get dark, you may still save them with a professional cosmetic cleaning. But if they’re stained, chances are you’ll have to replace them.
If your porcelain veneers look dark to you, consider looking at the surrounding teeth, as these may have discoloured instead. Optical illusions work that way! But your veneers are probably still the same colour they were when you got them.
There are numerous reasons why your natural teeth may no longer match the color of your veneers, such as excessive consumption of coffee, tea, or tobacco. It can also be related to age or simply poor oral hygiene.
When this happens, the best solution is to visit the dentist’s office and have him tell you what the best treatment is for your particular case. An experienced dentist may recommend complete tooth whitening followed by the implantation of a new veneer.
But luckily,
You can do some things at home to prevent your veneers from staining.
Seven ways to protect your porcelain veneers and keep them white
So, if your porcelain veneers can’t get a whitening procedure, what to do? Our best recommendation is to do whatever you can to take good care of them. This way, you maximise their useful life and assure they don’t get stained.
- Soft bristle toothbrushes are less aggressive with the porcelain, preventing the glaze from fading too soon.
- Wash your teeth after getting coffee and sodas, as their acidity and sugars can affect the porcelain veneer. IF you can, reduce its consumption to the minimum.
- Avoid baking soda washes or toothpaste, as this component is considerably abrasive for porcelain. It won’t get the whitening effect it does for natural teeth.
- Polishing toothpaste specially designed for veneers is professionally available. Consult your dentist and keep your porcelain as white as it should be.
- Never miss a cleaning appointment, so you avoid bacteria and tartar build-up that may create a yellowish film on top of the porcelain or create an infection.
- Professional maintenance is vital after a few years. So your veneers won’t look worn and lose their bright glaze.
Naturally, you’ll eventually have to replace those veneers with new ones. But even so, it doesn’t mean you can’t take good care of them…
Follow these tips, and you will never again have to ask if porcelain veneers can be whitened. If you have any questions related to Porcelain Veneers, feel free to reach out to our Hornsby dentists.
