How long do porcelain veneers last?

Early failures cluster around four causes: debonding from dentin-bonded preparations, fracture from untreated bruxism, marginal leakage from poor lab fit, and secondary caries at the margin. The 2018 JPD meta-analysis pinned debonding and fracture as the top two failure modes, accounting for roughly 60% of early failures. Enamel preservation during prep and a fitted night guard for parafunction patients remove most of the risk. Lab-side, margin fit under 25 microns and a properly etched intaglio surface eliminate the rest.

It depends on the load. Feldspathic porcelain on a refractory die produces the highest-esthetic veneer and lasts 20+ years in low-load anterior cases. Lithium disilicate (e.max) handles higher occlusal load and works for canine-guided occlusion or patients with mild parafunction. For a central incisor case with minimal occlusal contact, feldspathic wins on esthetics and matches on longevity. For a full smile case crossing the canine, lithium disilicate is the safer specification.

Small chips at the incisal edge can be polished or composite-bonded chairside, buying 2-5 years before replacement. Larger fractures, debonds, and marginal failures require remake. The economics rarely favor repair past a certain point: a chairside composite repair on a $1,200 veneer that's 12 years old often signals the whole case is approaching end-of-life. Most clinicians stage replacement of an aging veneer case rather than chase individual repairs across multiple appointments.