Whether you have had composite bonding applied directly to your teeth or porcelain veneers fitted, the care immediately after your appointment is similar.
Numbness: If a local anaesthetic was used, your mouth may feel numb for 1–3 hours. Do not eat until you have full feeling back, and take extra care with hot drinks.
Sensitivity: Some sensitivity to temperature and biting is normal for a few days, particularly if tooth preparation (gentle shaping of the tooth surface) was involved.
Composite bonding is fully set by the time you leave the chair — you can eat normally once the anaesthetic has worn off, though it is sensible to avoid very hard foods on the day of treatment.
Porcelain veneers: These are permanently bonded but allow a short settling-in period. Your bite may feel slightly different at first.
What to Avoid to Protect Your Results
Composite bonding and porcelain veneers are durable but not indestructible. Certain habits can chip, stain, or damage them.
Avoid:
Biting your nails, chewing pens, or using your teeth as tools — these are among the most common causes of chipping.
Biting directly into very hard foods with the veneered or bonded teeth: apples (cut them up), crusty bread, hard sweets, ice, boiled sweets.
Grinding or clenching your teeth — if you do this (especially at night), discuss a nightguard with your dentist. Grinding is a significant cause of veneer damage.
Staining foods and drinks in excess: coffee, tea, red wine, and cola. Composite bonding is more susceptible to staining than porcelain veneers. Using a straw for cold staining drinks helps.
Smoking — it causes significant staining of composite materials.
Abrasive toothpaste or whitening toothpaste — use a gentle, non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste to avoid dulling the surface of composite bonding.
Daily Care and Hygiene
Good daily care keeps your bonding or veneers looking their best and protects the teeth underneath.
Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste.
Clean between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes daily — pay attention to the edges of the bonding or veneer where they meet the gum.
Avoid whitening toothpastes — these are too abrasive for composite and will dull the surface finish over time. They do not whiten composite resin or porcelain.
If you have had tooth whitening, this should be done before composite bonding or veneers, as the material cannot be whitened after placement.
Attend regular check-up and hygiene appointments — your dentist will polish and check the condition of the bonding or veneers.
Longevity — What to Realistically Expect
Understanding how long your results are likely to last helps you plan and maintain them effectively.
Composite bonding typically lasts 5–7 years with good care, after which it may need polishing, repairing, or replacing. With excellent care and no parafunctional habits, it can last longer.
Porcelain veneers typically last 10–15 years or more. Porcelain is more resistant to staining and more durable than composite.
Small chips in composite can often be repaired easily and inexpensively at a check-up appointment.
The longevity of any cosmetic restoration is significantly influenced by your habits, oral hygiene, and whether you attend for regular maintenance.
When to Contact Your Dentist
Contact your dental practice if:
A veneer or bonding chips, cracks, or falls off — keep any fragments and contact the practice. It is usually repairable.
The bite feels very uneven after 3–4 days (a simple bite adjustment may be needed)
You have significant tooth sensitivity that is worsening after 2 weeks
The gum around the veneer or bonding appears swollen, red, or is bleeding persistently (may indicate a problem at the margin)
You are unhappy with the appearance after the settling-in period — discuss this with your dentist, who can often make adjustments
For out-of-hours advice, call NHS 111.
This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dentist will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Contact your dentist if a veneer or bonding chips or falls off, you have significant pain, or the bite feels very wrong. Call NHS 111 for out-of-hours urgent advice.