Believe it or not, that is the question.
In fact, that is the question we are most often asked in the lab.
Both patients and dentists want to believe in the virtues of being able
to provide "instant orthodontics" without touching natural teeth.
Preserving natural tooth structure should always be a guiding principle.
However, we must remember the reason patients are interested in veneers
in the first place.
Esthetics.
In the case featured in these photos, Dr. Gary
Radz (Littleton, CO) and YES! Dental Laboratory worked together to create a
beautiful, new smile. Technically, this is not a no-prep case.
However, it is a case where the right materials were matched with the
right techniques to achieve amazing results.
With esthetics as the primary objective, there
are some important factors to consider in determining whether or not prepping
is required.
1) Occlusal Pattern: End-to-end bites are an immediate contraindication for
veneers -- prep or no prep. The risk of fracture is just too high --
regardless of material thickness, available bonding materials and almost
anything else. It is just not worth risking the long-term viability of a
case where the bite is a concern. In these cases, your best option is
full contour crowns. All ceramic restorations may be indicated, but
veneers are almost always contraindicated.
2) Underlying Tooth
Structure: Dark, discolored
teeth can be challenging to cover -- especially with ultra-thin veneers.
New materials such as IPS e.max are quite effective at blocking-out
underlying tooth structure while still allowing us to layer-in translucency.
However, each case is different. In general, dark or variations in
underlying tooth shading require additional preparation.
3) Mixing Crowns &
Veneers: In situations where a combination of
crowns and veneers are required, minimal prep veneers are contraindicated.
It is very important to match materials across the entire smile, and even
different types of metal-free restorations can result in subtle (but
noticeable) variations in shading and translucency. In these situations,
it is best to utilize a pressed all-ceramic restoration that can be used for
both veneers and full contour crowns.
At YES! Dental Laboratory, we are honored to be
able to complete amazing cases with leading clinicians such as Dr. Gary Radz.
Every client and every case is important to us, and we look forward to
helping you evaluate the best materials and prep strategy for your next veneer
case -- whether is requires minimal preparation or not.
