Question:

I have had veneers for about 10 years that seem to be losing their white colour. Do you know why this might be happening and can you suggest if they should be removed or replaced?

Answer: If your veneers are made of composite resin (bonding), then it is quite likely that they have degraded with time. Many of these materials do not remain colour stable over long periods of time and are also prone to moisture absorption that can cause them to stain even further.

Porcelain veneers rarely discolour or stain and are quite resistant to any degradation. Long-term use of abrasive toothpastes can cause micro-scratches on the veneer surfaces that will attract stains.

In either case it is very difficult to repair existing veneers and you may need to consider replacing them (with porcelain) if you want to restore a bright, white colour that lasts.

For more information please visit Dr Angelo Lazaris's website.