Replacing old veneers: when and how it is done
Veneers last a long time, but not forever. If yours are chipped, stained at the edges, or simply no longer suit you, here is what replacement involves.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, dentist (prosthetics and implant surgery) · Updated October 2026Veneers are usually replaced because of a chip or crack, a veneer that keeps coming loose, decay or staining at the edges, gum recession showing the tooth, or a shape or shade you no longer like. The old veneer is removed by cutting or grinding it away, the tooth is cleaned and lightly re-prepared, and a new veneer is made. A little more tooth is usually lost each time, which is why the first preparation should be light.
Porcelain veneers have a good long-term record. A review of about 6,500 porcelain laminate veneers estimated that 95.5% were still in place after 10 years (Alenezi et al., 2021), and a 2025 meta-analysis found pooled survival above 93% at around ten years for the main ceramic types (Klein et al., 2025). Still, many people who have veneers in their forties or fifties will need at least some replaced in their lifetime. Knowing what that involves helps you make better choices the first time, and plan the second time.
Reasons veneers are replaced
| Reason | Typical sign |
|---|---|
| Fracture or crack | A visible crack line or a large chip that cannot be repaired |
| Repeated debonding | The same veneer comes loose more than once |
| Decay at the edge | A dark line, sensitivity, or found on X-ray |
| Edge staining | A brown or grey line at the gum that does not polish away |
| Gum recession | A band of natural tooth showing above the veneer |
| Appearance | Too bulky, too white, wrong shape, or out of step with ageing natural teeth |
| Old composite | Dull, rough or stained bonding being upgraded to porcelain |
Not every problem needs replacement. Small chips can be polished or repaired, and some edge stains polish away. See chipped veneer repair.
How old veneers are removed
Porcelain veneers are bonded very strongly, so they do not simply pop off. The dentist usually cuts or grinds the old veneer away under magnification, taking care to stay in the ceramic and the cement rather than the tooth. Some dentists use lasers designed to soften the cement under certain ceramics. Either way, the remaining cement is removed and the tooth cleaned.
A small amount of tooth surface is usually lost in the process, especially at the edges where cement and enamel meet. With a careful dentist the loss is modest. Over two or three replacements, it adds up. That is the main reason we keep stressing light first preparations: they leave room for the future. See how much tooth is removed.
Veneer to veneer, or veneer to crown?
Most replacement veneers can be veneers again, if enough enamel remains and the tooth is sound. A tooth may need a crown on replacement if:
- decay under the old veneer has left a large defect;
- the tooth has cracked;
- previous preparation went deep and little enamel is left;
- the tooth has had root canal treatment and is weak.
Once a tooth is crowned, it will need crowns from then on. Crown preparations remove roughly two-thirds of the visible tooth (Edelhoff and Sorensen, 2002), so there is no way back to a veneer.
Replacing one veneer or a group?
Replacing one damaged veneer is perfectly possible, but matching a single new veneer to older ones is precise work. Ceramic ages very little, but the natural teeth around it, and your gums, do. If your veneers are 15 years old and the shade or shape no longer suits you, replacing the whole visible group may give a better result than a single veneer that matches old work. If the others are fine, a single replacement made from your records of the original shade and material is usually the sensible choice. See a single veneer or a full set.
Upgrading from composite
Composite bonding often needs replacing or refreshing within several years: a review of composite veneers found about 88% survival over two to eight years (Lim et al., 2023, cited on our composite page). Many people start with composite and later move to porcelain. The composite is removed, the teeth are prepared lightly for porcelain, and laminate veneers are made. Because composite usually needed little preparation, there is often plenty of enamel to work with.
Planning the replacement
- Find the reasonA veneer that failed through grinding will fail again without a night guard; one that failed through decay needs better cleaning.
- Check the gumsRecession or gum disease should be treated first. The NHS lists receding gums among the signs of gum disease.
- Look at your recordsThe original material and shade make matching easier.
- Design againYour face and smile have changed. Shape and shade that suited you at 45 may need adjusting at 60.
- Consider the materialA 2025 meta-analysis found lithium disilicate veneers had fewer long-term technical complications than feldspathic porcelain (Klein et al., 2025).
- Protect itNight guard, check-ups and the care routine.
Cost and time
A replacement veneer costs about the same as a new one, plus the time to remove the old one. Replacing a group fits into a normal veneer trip of about a week. If the replacement is under a guarantee, read the terms: they may cover the veneer but not travel. See what a veneer guarantee covers.
Replacing veneers done elsewhere
Many people asking about replacement had their first veneers at another clinic, sometimes abroad, sometimes with crowns described as veneers. Bring whatever records you have, and photos or X-rays. A dentist can usually tell from an X-ray whether the teeth have crowns or veneers, and how much tooth remains. The answer decides whether the replacement can be veneers or must be crowns. Our page on Turkey teeth covers the crown problem in more detail.
Living with the decision in the meantime
If a replacement is not urgent, for example an edge stain or a veneer that looks slightly dated, there is no need to rush. Many people wait until several veneers need attention and replace them together, which makes matching easier and fits into one trip. In the meantime, keep up check-ups, so any decay or gum change is caught early, and keep the night guard in use. If a veneer is cracked, decayed or loose, do not wait.
What the new set can do better
A replacement is a chance to correct what bothered you about the first set. Common improvements are a slimmer profile at the gum, a more natural shade with translucent edges, slightly more length to make up for wear, and a design that is easier to clean. Bring photos of what you liked and did not like, and if possible photos of your smile before the first veneers. Tell the dentist plainly what you want different; it is much easier to design for a clear brief. See avoiding bulky veneers and veneer shades.
Ask for your new records, including the material, shade and date, to be given to you in writing, so the next dentist who sees your teeth knows exactly what is there.
And if your old veneers still look fine, there is no need to replace them on a schedule.
Questions to ask
- Why did my veneer fail, and how do we prevent it happening again?
- How much tooth will be lost removing the old veneer?
- Can the replacement be a veneer, or does it need to be a crown?
- Should I replace one veneer or the whole group?
- What material would you use, and why?
At Precious Dental we replace old veneers and composite bonding as well as making new ones. Send us photos and any X-rays of your current veneers, and we will tell you whether a repair, a single replacement or a new set makes sense. E-max laminate veneers are £300 per tooth; see our prices.
Common questions
How long do veneers last before they need replacing?
Many last well over 10 years. A review of about 6,500 porcelain veneers estimated 95.5% still in place at 10 years.
Does removing veneers damage the teeth?
Some tooth surface is usually lost when the old veneer and cement are removed. With a careful dentist the loss is small, but it adds up over several replacements.
Can I replace just one veneer?
Yes, though matching one new veneer to older ones is precise work. Sometimes it is better to replace a group so they match.
Can crowns be changed back to veneers?
No. A tooth prepared for a crown has lost too much of its outer layer to hold a veneer. It will need crowns from then on.
Can composite veneers be replaced with porcelain?
Yes. Composite can be removed and the teeth prepared for porcelain, which is a common upgrade.
Sources
- Alenezi A et al. (2021) Long-term survival and complication rates of porcelain laminate veneers. J Clin Med
- Klein P et al. (2025) Survival and complication rates of ceramic laminate veneers. J Esthet Restor Dent
- Edelhoff D, Sorensen JA (2002) Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs. J Prosthet Dent
- Oral Health Foundation: veneers (sometimes a new veneer is needed)
- NHS: gum disease (receding gums)
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Not sure what your teeth need?
Send us a few photos of your smile. A dentist looks at them and tells you plainly whether you need veneers, crowns, whitening, bonding, or nothing at all.