I am very curious about no prep porcelain veneers. I came across them when I was researching how to get a smile makeover and I am drawn to the idea of Lumineers because the photographs look so nice and I don’t want to have to get my natural tooth removed if I don’t need to.
But, I’m starting to wonder if this treatment may work better for some types of smiles. For example, if someone has really small teeth, then Lumineers may work well. But, for someone with average or large teeth, will the no prep technique may not look right? I don’t want to spend all this money and then be unhappy with the result.
-Pam in Arizona
Pam,
The good news is that you are doing your research before you make a final decision. That is great, and thank you for your question.
Lumineers and other ultra-thin veneers do not require any tooth preparation as you mentioned in your question. In some cases, like individuals with small teeth, or in some other cases, no preparation veneers will look OK. But, they definitely have some limitations.
The best think you can do in your research is to spend your time and effort in researching the best cosmetic dentist in your area. It’s much more important to find a highly-skilled dentist than selecting a certain type of cosmetic dentistry product or technique. Cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers are like an art. Not just any dentist can do beautiful porcelain veneers, whether they are traditional veneers or no prep veneers. It takes a passion for creating beauty and extensive training beyond dental school to perfect their skills. Since it’s not a regulated field in dentistry, any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist. That can be problematic since not every dentist has the skills or experience to do a good job. So, be sure to check out a dentist’s credentials and ask to see several before and afters of porcelain veneers patients before you make a decision.
Regarding whether you would be a candidate for no preparation veneers, is difficult to gauge without seeing you in person. Even though veneers are only 0.3 millimeters thick, they have the possibility of making the teeth look bulky and longer than is natural, especially when there is no tooth preparation done. Traditional porcelain veneers require a tiny portion of the tooth structure to be removed so there is a flawless transition between the natural tooth and the veneer itself. This will ensure that no one can tell where the tooth ends and the veneer starts. It is quite likely that you will find that most expert cosmetic dentists will recommend traditional porcelain veneers over no preparation veneers.They have much more freedom to create the right smile for you.
Then, you should also know more information about using the Lumineers brand. The company requires that the veneers are fabricated in their own dental laboratory. Many excellent cosmetic dentists feel that this limits the dentist’s artistic ability to create a smile that is tailored for the patient. Many Lumineers patients also complain of them looking bulky or making their teeth look unnatural.
So, to reiterate, it’s great that you are doing your research ahead of time. However, you should spend the time learning more about the best cosmetic dentists in your area. Most dentists will encourage you to have a complimentary consultation where you can come in to meet the dentist, learn more about their treatment philosophy and also ask questions. So, it would be good to get multiple opinions and spend your time finding the right dentist who you can trust.
Thank you for your question. In a day and age where we price compare and do online research all the time, it’s easy to want to do the same with dentistry. However, it is not the way to go. It’s all about finding the best dentist.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.