An opinion about no prep veneers from a professional. Are non prep veneers right for me?
An article about non prep veneers, written by our main dental aesthetics specialist, Dr. György Turcsányi, who specialized in the different techniques for veneers.
Some patients are looking for an alternative to traditional dental veneers 
or bonding, as the traditional veneer procedure requires more preparation of the teeth. But everyone has to keep in mind that this treatment option is not appropriate for everyone. This is where the truth comes in.
Just as with porcelain veneers, the minimal preparation veneers or non prep veneers – as the terms suggest, they typically do not require the dentist to remove as much tooth material – are bonded to the front surface of the tooth. Often, the placement of non prep veneers can be done faster and with less discomfort than that of traditional veneers.
This means a brilliant, new smile without the extensive preparation of existing tooth structure. With non-prep veneers, the process is reversible and practically risk-free. The procedure is reversible, as little or no tooth structure is removed.
A painless solution which can reshape to a certain extent, brighten and whiten a smile.
When are non prep veneers a good idea?
There are a significant number of patients who have relatively small teeth for a variety of reasons: e.g. external causes such as acid erosion; genetic factors resulting in naturally small teeth and spacing between the teeth; discrepancies between jaw and teeth size — just to name a few. These instances all provide potential candidates for “without preparation” restorations.
Short, worn-out teeth – creating a smile with more visible tooth length can sometimes “turn back the clock” for someone who has worn their teeth down by grinding.
Narrow smiles – Many times, the teeth on both sides of the smile are positioned inward and do not show from a frontal view.
Teeth that need to be more visually present – e.g. when big lips overpower them, or when teeth are too small in relation to the whole smile.
Teeth that are genetically misshapen – “Peg laterals” is a fairly common condition in which one or both of the teeth directly next to the two upper front ones are very small and peg-shaped.
Cases, in which the non prep veneers are not suitable
- Improper tooth position
- Large discrepancies in root position
- Malocclusion
- If some form of orthodontic treatment is necessary to mechanically move the teeth
- If the patient declines orthodontic treatment, some amount of tooth preparation may be necessary to create the illusion of proper alignment
- Teeth that are already relatively large or positioned forward in the smile do not typically allow aesthetically and mechanically to add another layer of material
Disadvantages of non prep veneers overall
- If you have dark teeth, the no prep veneers are too thin to block out the dark underlying color of the tooth to look natural and if attempted, it will be opaque or chalk looking
- Non prep veneers are not suitable for teeth that are naturally thick, angled outward and too big
- This technique of veneers result in thick and unnatural looking teeth, as another layer of material is added
One of the works of Dr. Turcsányi, you can see here more: Experiences site
Learn more about Dr. György Turcsányi and if you would like to know if you are eligible for non prep veneers, contact us with a picture of your smile! You can also learn about the veneers costs before you contact us.
