What Are Prepless Veneers?
Veneers are thin sheets of composite material or porcelain that are bonded impermanently to the front of your teeth. If you’re considering veneers, you are likely in the first steps to considering what your smile goals are.
As prepless veneers are bonded impermanently, the way false fingernails are attached to nails, some patients may discover that they’re looking for more permanent solutions to correcting their smile imperfections.
To help you decide, we’ve put together this look at veneers, specifically regular veneers vs non-invasive, prepless veneers. Here at The Lowe Centre, we provide the latter. Among the many cosmetic dental solutions available, prepless non-invasive dental veneers are a non-permanent option. In contrast, dental crowns and implants are permanent cosmetic solutions.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Many patients are interested in learning the difference between prepless veneers and traditional veneers.
What Are Veneers?
Overall, veneers are thin sheets of composite material or porcelain that look a bit like tooth-shaped shells. Fixed impermanently to the front of your teeth, their purpose is to quickly improve the appearance of your teeth. Typically applied to the prominent front teeth, veneers can create symmetry, cover chips, and brighten your smile. Veneers can cost up to $3000 per tooth and last around five to seven years.
The Drawbacks of Veneers
Many individuals would prefer to keep their natural teeth and get veneers attached, finding the grinding down of original teeth to be unappealing. For these folks, prepless veneers are a clear choice. Traditional veneers require preparation, which is their primary drawback.
It is important to keep in mind that veneer application is one of those treatments that require a cosmetic dentist who knows what they’re doing. If you’ve been perusing social media with an interest in dental journeys, you may have come across some dodgy-looking accounts promoting veneer placement outside of an official dental environment.
Beware of any veneer treatment that is being promoted by non-dentists! One of the biggest drawbacks of veneers is that they are commonly offered by misleading non-professionals.
We have put together two articles to help you confidently make the right choices for your smile makeover:
Protecting Yourself Against Cosmetic Dental Scams
5 Steps to Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist for You
Traditional Veneers vs Prepless Veneers: What is the Difference?
Requiring little tooth preparation, prepless veneers cover the front of the teeth in a painless that doesn’t usually require any type of anesthesia.
By contrast, traditional veneers involve a great deal of preparation. The tooth’s structure needs to be modified, typically with grinding, to allow for stabilization of the veneers. Consequently, placing traditional veneers is a permanent procedure, leaving around 80% of the original tooth enamel behind. The grinding certainly requires the use of an anesthetic.
Like prepless veneers, traditional veneers can be made with composite material or porcelain. A composite veneer can be prepared in the office, while a porcelain veneer will need to be produced in a laboratory.
Both traditional and prepless veneers help to fix gaps, shape, and discolouration. Both avoid intense surgery, however, traditional veneers do require tooth grinding and are permanently bonded.
Prepless Veneers Aren’t For Everyone
Your smile makeover will be unique to your needs, goals, and particular dental situation. Consequently, neither prepless nor traditional veneers may not be the right solution for your cosmetic dentistry needs.
Since prepless veneers avoid grinding enamel, they might not be a good fit for your teeth. There will be other solutions and ways to get there. When you’re in Dr. Lowe’s care, you can rest assured that you will always get the most bespoke care and receive the most appropriate solution to meet your smile goals.
You can learn more about our approach to veneers here:
https://www.mysmilemakeover.com/cosmetic/porcelain-veneers/
Book a Virtual Consultation anytime and find out if veneers are right for you!
Dr. Ed Lowe
The Lowe Centre for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry