What Causes Porcelain Veneers to Fail?

Porcelain veneers are perhaps the most popular and effective cosmetic dental treatment due to their durability and versatility. Veneers help to change the smile in remarkable ways and give the person’s self-esteem a boost. Generally, porcelain veneers should last up to 10 years or more with adequate care. Although durable, porcelain veneers sometimes fail, and you may need to have them replaced. In this article, we cover factors that may cause porcelain veneers to fail.

Why do veneers fail?

Improper bonding

Porcelain veneers usually fail if they are not correctly bonded to the teeth. The dentist must follow specific guidelines to ensure a perfect bond. Without proper bonding, the veneers could chip or break off. Another indication of improper bonding is any apparent margin between the gums and the veneers; you may be able to see the underlying tooth. With time, the forces of chewing with eventually cause the veneers to fail.

Wear and tear

Porcelain veneers are sturdy, but they can also be damaged through normal wear and tear caused by chewing and biting. Bad habits such as teeth grinding and opening hard substances with your teeth can hasten deterioration and cause damage to the veneers. If the veneers get chipped or cracked, you will need to have them replaced with new ones.

Tooth injuries

Accidents are unpredictable; it could be a sports injury, an auto crash or a hard fall. These injuries could affect the gums, teeth and any dental restoration or device you have on your teeth. Damage to the veneers from injuries and accidents should be corrected by replacing the veneers.

Root canal infection

Root canal infection happens when bacteria invade in the dental pulp of the tooth. This could be caused by injuries, tooth decay and other diseases. Pulp infection causes severe pain and discomfort and may cause the infection to spread to other areas of the mouth. The dentist will need to remove the porcelain veneers if the tooth gets infected.

Alignment issues

Before placing veneers, the cosmetic dentist must consider the patient’s bite, tooth and jaw alignment and other orthodontic factors. If a previous alignment issue was not corrected before the veneer was applied, it might compromise the quality and durability of the porcelain veneer. While the laminate itself may be resistant to discoloration and mask flaws, orthodontic issues of the teeth will eventually cause the veneers to fail.

Improper tooth preparation

Before applying veneers, the cosmetic dentist may need to reshape your teeth and remove a thin layer of enamel to make the veneers bond to the tooth surface. This is called prepping. Sometimes, the dentist may not be conservative enough and may end up scraping too much or too little of the tooth’s structure. This could cause tooth sensitivity and eventual veneers failure.

Poor construction

Porcelain veneers can also fail due to poor construction. They may be too thick, making the teeth appear bulky. The dentist may not polish the veneers to their proper, natural-looking luster, which will make them look dull. Poorly done veneers get discolored easily, sometimes after a few days.

In conclusion

If you are considering porcelain veneers, contact a reputable and experienced cosmetic dentist.

Request an appointment here: or call Campbell Smile at (408) 379-0851 for an appointment in our Campbell office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.