Will Veneers Ruin My Teeth?

Will veneers ruin my teeth

Those perfect smiles shown off by celebrities on the red carpet during award season are not always natural. Many have had various cosmetic and restorative treatments to fix smile issues such as misshapen teeth, stains, and gaps between teeth. Here is another secret, celebrities are not the only ones who can achieve a perfect smile. Now anybody can have a significant upgrade in their smile. When considering this cosmetic option, many patients ask “will veneers ruin my teeth”? If your dentist has been trained in doing no-prep dental veneers.

Those same treatments, such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, and porcelain veneers are available at your local dentist. No prep porcelain veneers are a fast way to dramatically improve the appearance of your smile, with minimal damage to your existing teeth. Dr. James Fondriest can give you a celebrity smile with porcelain veneers or other cosmetic and restorative dental procedures. In the distant past, only women were seeking cosmetic treatments but today, men are asking for veneers just as much.

What are Traditional Porcelain Veneers?

Traditional porcelain veneers, also called “laminates”, are hard shells made out of durable materials like porcelain. They are attached (bonded) over the front of the teeth to hide minor imperfections and restore a beautiful smile.

Uses of porcelain veneers:

  • Close gaps between teeth
  • Restore decayed, eroded, or worn teeth
  • Fix the size, shape, and length of teeth so they are more uniform in appearance
  • Improve symmetry and orientation
  • Cover minor cracks, fractures, and root canal access holes
  • Cover blemishes, stains, or dark colors
  • Create a uniform texture and tooth surface
  • Change occlusion (position of the teeth)

Veneers are a popular option in cosmetic dentistry, as the procedure is faster and less invasive compared to crowns or dental implants. When done correctly, they are an excellent way to extend the life of your smile. However, traditional veneers still often require the dentist to remove healthy portions of the enamel to create more space around the teeth. Once the enamel is gone, it cannot ever be replaced.  Traditional veneers remove about half as much enamel as teeth crowns.

Veneers are good for teeth

What are “No-Prep” Veneers?

Recently, a new porcelain has been developed for smile makeovers that is even faster and less invasive. This ceramic has given rise to “no-prep” or minimal prep veneers.

No-prep veneers are thin laminates of non-brittle porcelain that are able to bond with teeth. They are conservative as using composite resin. They’re as durable and strong as traditional veneers, but due to their thinness, they also preserve the natural coloring of the teeth. This means they can be crafted to cover any blemishes or stains on the teeth, without creating a one shade, unnatural looking smile. No-prep veneers require the teeth to be straight. Short term braces before the veneers may be done.

The Technology Behind No-Prep Veneers

We say that our veneers will not ruin your teeth because we often don’t remove and of the existing tooth structure to do them.  No-prep veneers are a true innovation in cosmetic dentistry. The technology uses ultra thin porcelains or laminates, which are as thin as .02mm, and yet they are still as strong and durable as traditional porcelain veneers. Traditional porcelain can become extremely brittle if it is too thin, leading to breaks or cracks.

The new technology creates non brittle porcelain, which bonds to your teeth without cracking. They will not ruin your teeth because they require very little or no any drilling.

Advantages of No-Prep Veneers

Less drilling and reshaping 

Because of the technology, your smile can be restored while keeping the natural contours of your teeth. With traditional veneers, the dentist often has to drill, reshape, or reduce the size of the teeth before they are applied. No-prep veneers require only minimal tooth reduction.

Produce more life-like results

Another advantage is that multiple layers of porcelain and textures can be applied to create different levels of translucency and color. This produces a more natural looking smile as opposed to a one dimensional solution such as Lumineers.

A conservative, but still effective approach

Will veneers ruin my teeth? No-prep veneers combine the conservative advantage of resin bonding teeth with the same durability and strength as traditional porcelain veneers. When little or no drilling is done, we can absolutely guarantee that our veneers will not ruin your teeth.

prepless veneers before and after

This Chicago anchor woman had big stress in her life. She had very heavy wear on her teeth from bruxism. The profound enamel wear made her front teeth appear shorter. Because we were just adding length, we did these veneers without drilling.

The No-Prep Veneers Process

There are three phases to the non-prep veneers process.

Phase 1: Consultation

First, you will undergo an initial consultation to determine you particular dental and cosmetic issues. The hygienist will work with you to ensure good oral hygiene. At this time, you and your dentist will discuss your options and decide on the size, shape, length, color, and texture for your veneers.

Phase 2: Preparing the mouth and veneers

The doctor and lab technician determine with digital design software if any of the tooth structure needs to be removed. To ensure perfect fit, occasionally small undercuts in tooth contours must be adjusted. Impressions of your teeth, mouth and jaw will be taken, along with pictures and measurements of your face, bite, jaw and natural movements.

Phase 3: Receiving your veneers

The opalescent porcelain sheaths will be placed over the front of your teeth. The dentist will ensure they fit properly and that they have the right appearance. The ultra thin veneers will then be bonded using the same composite material used in tooth-colored fillings.

Who is a Candidate for No-Prep Veneers? If you think veneers will ruin your teeth, then consider no-prep versions

In order to be a candidate for no-prep veneers, you should have good oral health in general. If you have gum disease, tooth loss, bone loss, or other issues you may need more aggressive solutions like crowns or dental implants. Candidates are selected based on the condition of the teeth and whether or not a natural look can still be achieved.

Who are the best candidates for ultra-thin veneers?:

  • If you have small teeth or teeth that have been affected by acid erosion
  • If you have had teeth removed as a result of orthodontic care
  • You have damaged teeth due to grinding
  • You have over sized lips or a smile that is not proportionate to the rest of your mouth
  • Your side teeth are tapered or turned inward and hidden when you smile
  • You have genetically misshaped teeth

Will No-Prep Veneers Ruin My Existing Teeth?

The ultra thin material of no-prep veneers usually requires little to no reshaping or drilling. This allows more of the tooth to be preserved. So they should only have minimal effects on your natural teeth. All high quality veneers have a very long lifespan.

Significantly changing contours can create difficulty in keeping clean. Poorly cleaned veneers can cause your breath to smell.

Address a Number of Imperfections with Veneers

Veneers can address a wide variety of imperfections beyond just staining with beautiful and natural looking results. For instance, veneers can help to hide gaps between teeth, and variations in the teeth’s shape and size. Veneers can even do so with long lasting results, thanks to the stain resistance and durability of dental grade porcelain. The before and after results of veneer treatment is fantastic.

Proper care, including the use of a gentle toothpaste and regular dental cleanings, will help to prolong the life of your veneers. In fact, they can last beautifully for more than ten years, with your proper care.

Still considering fixing your teeth?

Cosmetic dental treatment can give you a more confident smile. Learn about your options in cosmetic dentistry Chicago. We invite you to come in to talk about the ways to improve your smile. One new motivator to improve your smile is a newly published study that connects smiling to professional success.

Aside from providing dependable general and restorative dentistry, Dr. James Fondriest also holds respected academic appointments at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, FL, and the Spear Institute in Scottsdale, AZ. He is also a former adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Florida Dental School. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest combines his impressive array of experience with modern technology and caring, compassionate, knowledgeable staff.

If you have cosmetic dental issues causing you concern, meet with us to explore the many smile correction treatments available. We proudly serve patients in the Chicago Metro area, including the Northwest and North Shore suburbs. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (847) 234-0517.

If you are a medical professional wishing to learn more about this subject, Dr. Fondriest frequently lectures on aesthetic dentistry topics.

Dr. Fondriest is a Nationally recognized and highly sought after cosmetic dentist. He treats patients from throughout the United States