When you have restored your beautiful, bright smile with dental veneers, the last thing you want is to worry about how they look. But, do veneers stain? Here’s the answer to that (and two other) frequently asked questions.
1. First question: Do veneers stain?
Dental veneers are a cosmetic dental restoration that consists of a thin shell of material that fits over your teeth. They can be the ideal treatment for:
- Small cracks, chips, or fractures in teeth
- Yellowed or stained teeth
- Misshaped or small teeth
- Minor bite correction
If you have healthy natural teeth that look a little less-than-perfect, dental veneers can help bring your smile back to life. First, your dentist takes an impression of your healthy natural teeth and then custom-crafts veneers to achieve the results you are looking for. They then remove some of the healthy tooth’s enamel to make the veneer attach better and apply a thin layer of dental adhesive.
Finally, your dentist affixes the veneer to the tooth to restore your smile.
But do veneers stain?
It depends. As with many things in life, the better the materials, the better the result. If you are using high quality veneer materials (see below), there is not much chance of staining. Lower quality materials just don’t last as long or perform as well. Staining may also occur.
With any type of material, there is a slight chance of staining the margin around the veneer. This is the area where the veneer meets the gumline. With age and poor dental hygiene, receding gums can expose the thin layer of dental adhesive that attaches the veneer to the tooth. This can stain. If gums are healthy and intact, the chance of this also decreases.
Do composite veneers stain?
Plastic or composite resin veneer materials can scratch or crack and maybe more susceptible to staining.
And that line of adhesive cement (also referred to as a glue line)? It’s made of composite materials. These materials absorb staining foods and other substances over time and resist whitening. Put simply, composite veneers are more susceptible to staining.
Do porcelain or other types of veneers stain?
Porcelain veneers are very resistant to staining and will generally stay brightly white for the life of your veneers.
A tooth that is hit hard may discolor if the dentin underneath is damaged. Dentin is the soft, inner pulp of the tooth. This could show through your veneers, regardless of material. Beyond this risk, though, it is unlikely for porcelain and other high-quality veneers themselves to stain.
2. What can stain veneers?
Even though porcelain veneers are highly resistant to staining, there are some generally staining foods, beverages, and substances you can avoid or limit. As noted above, even porcelain veneers can have staining at the margin line, so consider limiting the following.
- Smoking: Do veneers stain from smoking? Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the most common types of staining for all kinds of teeth. Teeth bathed in nicotine many times a day a day have trouble staying white.
- Red wine: Red wine is notoriously hard to get out of clothes when it spills, and your lovely veneers are no different.
- Coffee: Your daily java, even with cream to lighten it, may over time cause your veneers to lose their bright hue.
- Soda: Not only is soda a staining agent, but it also contains acid that can etch into veneers over time. This makes staining even e