Traditional Veneers vs. No-Prep Veneers

Dental veneers are one of the quickest and easiest ways to transform a less-than-perfect smile. In as little as two dental appointments – one for treatment planning and taking impressions, and a second appointment for application – you can have a smile that looks more balanced and is whiter and brighter.

As the popularity of veneers has risen among patients seeking cosmetic treatment, newer kinds of veneers have been made available, along with different methods for applying them. These changes have brought a debate to the forefront of cosmetic dentistry: which is better, traditional veneers or no-prep dental veneers? As with any dental treatment, the ultimate verdict boils down to patient preference, but many dentists agree on the advantages that one treatment offers over another.

The process for getting traditional veneers involves preparing patients’ teeth by buffing away a small amount of natural dental enamel, and then bonding the veneer in place. On the other hand, the no-prep variety (as you may have guessed) does not involve buffing away dental enamel.

This preparation process has an effect on the final outcome. While some patients are intimidated by the idea of preparing teeth to accept a veneer, doing so allows the veneer (a thin sheet of porcelain) to rest perfectly on dental enamel. In this way, teeth do not look bulky or fake. Because no-prep veneers are simply bonded to teeth as-is, there is some risk of getting an unnatural result, where teeth look obviously treated or unnatural.

The ability to control the color of treated teeth is also affected by which treatment method you choose.  Traditional veneers tend to be slightly thicker than the no-prep variety. For patients with severely stained teeth that cannot be treated with whitening methods, this means that the standard veneer does a better job of covering and improving their natural tooth color. Thinner veneers may not mask stained teeth as efficiently; traditional veneers give cosmetic dentists better control over boosting the whiteness of a patient’s smile.

In the end, many patients and dentists find that regular dental veneers do a better job of concealing flaws and providing for a natural-looking restoration.  We custom-make traditional veneers right in our Foster City cosmetic dental office. Our on-site master ceramist helps to ensure that our patients’ smiles look beautiful and naturally improved. If you have any questions about veneers treatment, please feel free to contact our office.