Veneers are wafer-thin covers placed on top of the teeth to give them an even appearance. These veneers can hide stains, discoloration, small cracks, and other such aesthetic issues. They can drastically transform a person’s appearance and give them the confidence to smile freely. At Rod W. Gore, we offer a number of different treatment options. Our dentist has vast experience with both porcelain and prepless veneers.
Our patients often ask what the difference between these two options is. Here we provide a brief answer to that question. You can always consult with our experienced dentist on the subject. He will examine your teeth carefully and recommend the best option to you.
1. The Application Process
Both porcelain and prepless dental veneers are very thin and blend in perfectly with your natural teeth. That’s why these two options are popular with patients who want to improve their smile. The key difference between them is the application process. To install porcelain veneers, the dentist must first remove a thin layer of natural tooth enamel. This creates some space for the veneer to slot in perfectly and look natural. The dentist will only remove a small layer because they want to ensure there’s enough enamel left to bond with the veneer.
Porcelain veneers are stronger and more durable if they’re bonded to enamel instead of the underlying dentin. The natural dental material loss is one of the primary reasons why people hesitate to choose porcelain veneers. Prepless veneers are similar to porcelain veneers. They’re placed on the front of the teeth and are quite thin. However, they are prepless. This means the dentist doesn’t need to remove the natural teeth enamel and can place the veneers directly on top of the natural teeth.
As there’s little to no loss of dental enamel, many parents prefer this treatment to the porcelain alternative.
2. Ideal Candidates
Almost everyone is a good candidate for porcelain veneers. As long as your teeth aren’t too damaged and there’s enough dentin to support the veneers, you can get the procedure done.
Unfortunately, prepless veneers aren’t as flexible and versatile. Your teeth must meet the ideal criteria for you to be a candidate for this procedure. The teeth must be slightly retroclined towards the palate, which ensures there’s enough room for the prepless veneer.
The teeth should have the ideal shape, with some space between them for the veneer to fit in well. There should also be some room in the between the biting surfaces of the teeth. This will ensure they’re comfortable and help improve the appearance of the teeth.
In both cases, the discoloration shouldn’t be too severe. If the discoloration is too severe, the shade will peak through the thin porcelain rendering the veneer useless.
3.Permanence
Porcelain veneers are permanent because the dentist has to remove some natural dental enamel to create room for them. This means that if the veneers are damaged or chipped, you will have to replace them. You can’t remove them entirely and leave the underlying teeth uncovered. Porcelain veneers have a lifespan of around 10 years, after which you might have to replace them with a new set.
Prepless veneers aren’t as permanent. As the dentist doesn’t need to remove any underlying dental matter, your teeth can remain uncovered if you choose to skip replacement. Your teeth will look like they did before the dentist had applied the veneer over them.
You can maintain both of these treatments over your lifetime without causing any additional damage to your teeth. However, if your teeth are severely damaged and not strong enough to support veneers, you will need dental crowns.
Our dentist will examine your teeth carefully and recommend the best choice. He will also explain the pros and cons of each choice, and answer any questions you might have. If you want to know more about porcelain veneers, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Rod W. Gore. You can call at 480 585 6225 or contact us directly.