How to care for veneers, material by material

Veneers are cared for much like natural teeth: brush twice a day with a soft brush, floss every day, keep your regular checkups and don’t use your teeth as tools. What changes by material is how much they tolerate stains and how often they need a maintenance visit.

Daily habits for every material

• Brush twice a day with a soft-bristle brush. Hard bristles and aggressive scrubbing wear down polished surfaces over time.
• Use a non-abrasive toothpaste. Whitening pastes with heavy abrasives can dull the finish, especially on resin and polyresin.
• Floss every day. Veneers cover the front of the tooth, not the gum line. Healthy gums are what keep the edges looking clean.
• Keep your regular checkups and cleanings so small issues are caught early.

What to avoid

• Using your teeth as tools. No opening bottles or packages, no biting nails, pens or ice.
• Very hard foods bitten with the front teeth. Cut apples, carrots or crusty bread and chew them with your back teeth.
• Grinding at night. If you clench or grind your teeth, tell your dentist. A night guard may be recommended to protect your veneers.

Porcelain (EMAX): the lowest-maintenance option

Glazed porcelain resists stains from coffee, wine and soda very well, and it doesn’t need scheduled maintenance visits. Follow the daily habits above and keep your regular checkups. With normal care, porcelain veneers last up to 20 years.

Polyresin: periodic maintenance

Polyresin resists stains and breaks, but its surface benefits from periodic maintenance to stay bright and smooth. At those visits the finish is checked and polished. With that care, polyresin lasts up to 10 years.

Resin: a visit every year

Resin is the most sensitive to color and wear. Plan on a maintenance visit every year to keep its shine and strength, and be mindful of what stains:

• Coffee, black tea and red wine: rinse with water afterwards, or drink them with a straw when you can.
• Tobacco stains resin quickly.
• Colored sauces and drinks (curry, soy sauce, dark sodas) add up over time.

With yearly maintenance, resin veneers last up to 5 years.

Signs you should come in sooner

• A chip, crack or rough edge you can feel with your tongue.
• A veneer that feels loose or different when you bite.
• Gums that bleed, look swollen or seem to be pulling back around a veneer.
• Staining at the edge between the veneer and the tooth.

Any of these is a reason to message us on WhatsApp rather than wait for your next appointment.

The short version

	Porcelain	Polyresin	Resin
Maintenance visits	None scheduled	Periodic	Every year
Stain resistance	High	High	Low
Lifespan with care	Up to 20 years	Up to 10 years	Up to 5 years

Not sure which material you have, or when you’re due? Send us a message and we’ll check your records.