Porcelain veneers in Manchester are often chosen by patients, especially when using our Smile Makeover service. It’s a great way to make your teeth really ‘pop’, and with the right care, they’ll keep looking amazing for many years to come.
The question is, how long do they last? It’s only natural to assume they’ll last forever when you see the end result, but the reality is, all porcelain veneers need replacing at some point – it’s just a question of when.
Studies show that for 9 out of 10 people, they’re still in good shape ten years in, and in this article, we look at what to expect when having the treatment, what changes you might notice and how to keep veneers looking great for as long as possible.
Why Do Porcelain Veneers in Manchester Ever Need Replacing?
People often ask us, “Are porcelain veneers in Manchester permanent?” mostly because patients get a look that seems so solid and natural. It’s an easy mistake to make, but the reality is that even a great-looking solution like this only lasts so long.
Most patients keep their veneers for many years, without any major issues. Often, this is the case for well beyond a decade. However, your teeth and gums change as you age, and everyday use gradually takes its toll.
Replacement is usually needed for the following reasons:
What’s important to understand is that needing replacement doesn’t mean the veneers you had “didn’t last” or failed in some way. It just means they’ve reached the point where attention is needed.
For most patients, it’s a planned decision rather than an urgent one that’s going to catch you by surprise like a root canal might.
Ask five people who’ve had porcelain veneers in Manchester for 10 years how they’re faring, and you’ll almost certainly get five different answers. Some won’t have thought about theirs in years, whereas others will be having niggles or bigger issues.
In practical terms, many patients reach 10 years with no real concerns. Some go beyond that comfortably. Veneers don’t come with a fixed endpoint, and they don’t tend to announce when they’re “nearly done”. If something changes, it usually happens quietly and slowly.
Here’s what to expect at each stage.
| Timeframe | What patients usually experience |
| 1-3 years | Your veneers should feel completely normal and give you everything you intended. |
| 4-9 years | For the vast majority, they’ll still look great, but some people might experience some minor wear and tear. |
| 10 years | If you’re lucky, yours will still be going strong, but others might need to consider replacement. |
| 10 years+ | If you’ve looked after your veneers, you might still have quite a few years left in yours. |
What matters is that replacement decisions aren’t rushed. It’s something you can consider gradually, based on how your smile looks and feels, not because something has gone wrong.
Veneers usually hold up well in those first 10 years, but how long they last after that can be influenced by a handful of everyday behaviours. None of these is extreme, but together they can make a real difference to long-term results.
When you clench and grind your teeth, it places far more force on porcelain veneers in Manchester than normal chewing. Many people do it without realising, particularly at night. In these cases, we’ll typically recommend a mouthguard that’ll usually stop the worst of it.
Veneers don’t usually give you obvious warning signs when something starts to change, meaning that a regular routine check-up should be part of your schedule. The more often you get seen, the more likely you’ll nip issues in the bud.
If you’re someone who has a habit of using your teeth to open packaging, or even beer bottles, you’re asking for trouble. Doing so puts enormous pressure on your veneers, meaning you might end up having to consider replacements sooner. Our advice? Invest in a bottle opener and a box cutter!
Be Mindful of Staining Habits
Porcelain doesn’t stain easily, but natural teeth do. Given enough time, coffee, red wine and smoking can create contrast between your veneers and the surrounding teeth. That change in appearance, rather than damage, is what leads to problems with veneers.
If you’re looking into veneers, you need to know all the ins and outs before you commit. As we’ve seen, most can confidently expect about 10 years of good use out of porcelain veneers in Manchester. If you’re able to actively care for your veneers, you may get even longer.
At Ringway Dental, we don’t just fit veneers and send you on your way. We help you think things through properly at the start, and stay involved afterwards, so no decisions along the way are rushed or ill-conceived.
If you want to talk things through or ask a few questions about the treatment, we’re here for everything you need. All you need to do is get in touch with the Ringway team and book a consultation.
Q – Can porcelain veneers crack if I bite something hard?
A – They can, but it’s uncommon with normal eating. Most cracks happen from unexpected forces like biting down on something very hard, trauma, or habits like chewing ice. Veneers are strong, just not indestructible.
Q – Do veneers affect how my teeth feel when I bite or chew?
A – Once settled, veneers should feel no different from your natural teeth. If your bite feels off, even slightly, it’s worth mentioning early. Bite issues are easier to adjust before they cause wear.
Q – Can veneers loosen over time without falling off?
A – They can, yes. The glue holding a veneer in place can slowly weaken over the years without anything dramatic happening. Most people don’t notice a veneer “coming loose” as such. Instead, it might feel slightly different at the edge, or not quite the same as it used to. That’s usually something we spot during a routine check-up.
Q – Is it normal for my gums to move away from my veneers over the years?
A – It is. Gums change naturally as you get older, whether you have veneers or not. When that happens, it can affect how veneers look at the margin, but it doesn’t automatically mean there’s a problem. It’s one of the reasons regular monitoring matters, even when everything feels fine.
Q – If one veneer needs replacing, do they all need replacing?
A – Not always. In many cases, a single veneer can be replaced on its own. Whether that’s the right approach depends on things like how old the others are, how well the shade matches, and how everything looks overall. It’s a decision that’s usually planned rather than rushed.