Good veneers don’t just randomly fall off. Typically, if a veneer does fall off, it’s due to one (or more) of three reasons:

  • The dentist who installed it didn’t do a good job
  • The veneer itself was put through extreme wear and tear
  • The veneer has hit the end of its lifespan.

But, rest assured, a well-installed veneer under normal conditions should last for anywhere between 15-25 years.

Let’s take a deeper dive into why and when a veneer might fall off.

5 reasons your veneer may fall off

Dentist Choosing Tooth Color For Patient At Clinic

Damage

Often when a veneer falls off, and the patient doesn’t know why, it’s because they are unconsciously damaging their teeth. One of the biggest sources of this is when someone grinds their teeth. Whether or not you have veneers, tooth grinding damages your teeth and should be avoided. Another unconscious way people may damage their teeth is by chewing on ice, or hard candy. This too can cause a veneer to fall out. But, once again, whether you have a veneer or not, you should not be chewing on ice or hard candy as it damages your teeth.

Physical Trauma

Trauma to the face can cause a healthy tooth to fall out, and veneers are no different. One way you can protect your teeth and veneer is by wearing a mouth guard during any type of contact sport.

Tooth Decay

Your veneer is bonded to your tooth, but if the underlying tooth begins to decay, the bond gets weaker. This can cause the veneer to prematurely break off. That’s why it’s just important to brush and floss your veneer as it is any other tooth.

Poor installation

If you visit a doctor who is not well-versed in veneers, they can make mistakes that will decrease the strength of the bond to the tooth. If that’s the case, your veneer is almost guaranteed to fall off early. That’s why it’s important to find a dentist you can trust.

Old Veneers

All veneers have a lifespan. As we mentioned above, that ranges from 15-25 years, depending on the material used, as well as your oral hygiene practices. To prevent your veneer from falling off unexpectedly at the end of its lifespan, make sure you touch base with your dentist about any veneers you have after ten years. They’ll be able to inspect them and keep an eye on them for the next five to ten years. If there is a problem, they will suggest a replacement at that time.