No-Prep Veneers: Are They Always the Best Solution?

Dental veneers often form a major part of any smile makeover as this treatment is extremely versatile. If you are considering a smile makeover or any sort of cosmetic improvement to the appearance of your teeth, it’s highly likely veneers will be suggested.

What Is a Veneer?

A veneer is a very thin shell that is perhaps similar to a false fingernail and which will cover up the front surface of a tooth. It is bonded to the tooth surface creating a relatively strong restoration. Veneers can be used to improve the overall appearance of your teeth. This means it covers up any that are badly stained or discolored.

It also corrects other cosmetic problems like small chips and cracks or irregularities with the way teeth are spaced. They can even be used to correct small problems with alignment, where a tooth might only just overlap another or where it is slightly protrusive. Veneers can be made from porcelain or composite resin.

If you choose composite resin veneers then the resin is applied directly to the front surface of your tooth before being hardened, shaped and polished. Composite resin veneers are cheaper than porcelain. They will not last nearly as long and they may become stained after a few years of use. It can be a better long-term solution to consider porcelain veneers, which with the proper care could last for ten years or more.

Conventional Veneers and Tooth Preparation

However, teeth do need to be prepared for conventional veneers. The amount of tooth structure removed isn’t significant. It is typically only a small amount of tooth material from the front of the tooth and may be the biting surface. The average porcelain veneer is around 0.5 mm in thickness so extensive tooth preparation isn’t necessary.

It is important to remove a minimal amount of tooth structure as otherwise, your veneers could feel bulky and they may look unnatural. Even so, once any tooth structure has been removed it does leave the tooth more vulnerable to decay. It also means that the tooth will always need to be protected as this procedure is not reversible.

A tooth that has been prepared for veneers will require some form of protection for the rest of its natural life. This goes for whether this is in the form of dental veneers or crowns.

How Do No Prep Veneers Differ from Conventional Veneers?

With no-prep veneers, any sort of extensive tooth preparation is unnecessary so your teeth will remain largely unchanged. Instead, these veneers are so thin, being typically the thickness of a contact lens. This is so that they can simply be bonded onto the front surface of a tooth without looking or feeling bulky and unnatural.

This procedure is reversible, although your dentist will need to remove the dental cement used to bond the veneer. Minimal prep veneers are far more common and as the name suggests these only require minimal reshaping in preparation for the veneer. By removing just a tiny amount of material, the teeth can be reshaped to ensure a more visually appealing fit and finish.

This technique might sound ideal, but really minimal prep and no-prep veneers are only suitable in certain circumstances. For example, your dentist might suggest this option if your teeth are too small. They may also be a good choice for repairing and restoring teeth that have become worn down, perhaps due to extensive teeth grinding.

Minimal prep and no-prep veneers might be a good solution for closing up gaps in between teeth. It can also be a good solution for covering up teeth that are slightly stained or misshapen. One situation where they can be particularly effective is in covering up what are called peg laterals. These are the two teeth on either side of your upper front teeth, and which in some people will be too small and underdeveloped.

Covering them up can create a more visually appealing smile in a way that is very non-invasive and quick.

What to Expect If You Have No-Prep Veneers

If your tooth enamel is in good condition, it’s frequently possible to bond no-prep or minimal prep veneers directly onto the tooth surface. With this procedure, you may not even require dental anesthetic and it’s unlikely to create any problems with tooth sensitivity. Another advantage of choosing this type of restoration is that you won’t need any temporary veneers.

This procedure is extremely non-invasive and is often reversible because the teeth will still be intact underneath the veneers. However, it is important to bear in mind that it is not always easy to remove veneers as they are bonded onto the teeth very firmly.

What to Expect with Conventional Veneers

With conventional veneers, some tooth preparation is required. Once the teeth are prepared they usually need to be covered up with temporary veneers to prevent issues with tooth sensitivity and to protect the teeth. This isn’t necessarily such a bad thing, as often temporary veneers are created to closely mimic the final restorations.

This allows patients to have a sort of trial run of their teeth before the permanent restorations of made. This means if any alterations are required, they can be made before the permanent veneers are ready to be bonded onto the teeth.

Minimal Prep or No-Prep Veneers Aren’t Always Possible

Any patient visiting their dentist will always be advised to have the most conservative treatment possible to achieve their desired outcome. If dentists feel that no-prep or minimal prep veneers are a good solution for your smile makeover, your dentist will definitely suggest considering this treatment. Unfortunately, there are often times when these types of veneers simply aren’t suitable.

Adding even the very thinnest veneers onto the front of the tooth surface without preparing it will not produce the desired results. When used in the correct situations, minimal prep or no-prep veneers can make a huge difference to a smile in a very short space of time. It’s very important to be clear about your aims and desires before work begins.

Although no-prep or minimal prep veneers are very non-invasive, they may not work well for anyone who wants to make a significant change. Especially to the appearance of their teeth or to their color.

Things You Need to Know About Adult Orthodontics

In the not too distant past braces were usually seen as something worn by children and teenagers. Certainly never worn by adults but things have changed considerably over the past few years. These days it is becoming increasingly common for adults to seek orthodontic treatment. You may have seen friends or family members wearing braces to achieve a straighter smile.

There is certainly no stigma in wearing braces as an adult. Instead, it can show that you take care of yourself and like to look after your dental health and your appearance. The technologies used to make adult braces are extremely advanced and can provide excellent results more quickly than you might imagine. There are also a considerable number of braces to choose from.

Although your orthodontist is likely to recommend one or two particular choices over the others as being able to provide you with the best and most precise results. Thus, giving you the smile you desire.

Why Even Consider Adult Orthodontics?

Having nice straight teeth can bring about numerous benefits. Firstly, straighter teeth look more attractive which in turn can help increase self-esteem and self-confidence. A straighter smile can convey a sense of youthfulness, especially as treatment is often combined with teeth whitening. Additionally, having a straight smile shows you look after your teeth and that you care about your appearance.

This may help you in your career or even in finding a life partner. Then there are the potential benefits to oral health and which often overlooked. While a straighter smile is undeniably more attractive, it can frequently be healthier and could be a great investment in your long-term dental health.

Do you struggle to comfortably fit a piece of floss in between crooked or rotated teeth, or in between teeth that are tightly packed in? Now imagine the benefits of having beautifully straight teeth that make it easy and comfortable to thoroughly floss in between each tooth. Flossing is an essential part of any oral care regime.

 It helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, so your natural teeth stay strong and healthy for that much longer and hopefully for your lifetime. If you have a bad bite or poor occlusion then your teeth will also benefit considerably from being straightened up. With a bad bite, it’s highly likely that some teeth will bite together before others leading to unusual wear patterns and increased stress on these teeth.

When teeth are properly aligned then they will bite together more evenly, reducing stress on these teeth and on your jaw joints. You may even find it more comfortable to bite and chew food!

What Are the Options for Adult Orthodontics?

The best way of finding out all possible options for orthodontic treatment is to visit a dentist with considerable experience and training in orthodontics. Visit a dentist who can offer you a wide choice of adult orthodontic braces. Alternatively, see an orthodontist who is a dentist with advanced training in the dental specialty of orthodontics.

After first examining your teeth and the relationship between your jaws, they will be able to suggest the best possible option for your needs. This will be based on the orthodontic problems requiring correction and your desires for treatment. Adult braces can be fixed or removable. Removable braces are a very popular choice.

Fixed braces can work a little better when correcting more complex orthodontic problems. Your dentist will discuss which options will be most suitable for you and why they have chosen these particular braces. There is no need to worry that your new braces will be highly visible as even fixed braces can be made so they are extremely discreet.

Another advantage to think about if you have been recommended to have a fixed brace is that they will be working all the time to move your teeth. With removable braces good compliance is vital. Usually, the braces must be worn for at least 22 hours in order for the treatment plan to be successfully completed on time.

Removable Aligners

One of the most popular removable braces is a system called Invisalign. This is where teeth are discreetly moved using a series of clear BPA-free plastic aligners. These are custom-designed to fit tightly over the teeth and each set will move the teeth a little closer to their perfect positions. You simply need to wear the aligners for two weeks before discarding that set for the next set in the series.

A lot of adults like this system because it is so discreet and because the aligners may be left out for the very occasional event. The aligners are also taken out whenever you wish to brush or floss or to eat, so there is minimal impact on your everyday life. However, fixed braces can be equally as good.

Fixed Braces

With a fixed brace, it’s usually possible to use clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets that are attached to very thin wires. It provides optimal results in a way that is incredibly discreet. Lingual braces are fixed onto the inner surfaces of teeth so they cannot be seen. You will need to avoid some very crunchy or hard foods during treatment.

Ultimately the results should be well worthwhile and modern fixed braces such as Mystique are often designed to work very quickly.

Cosmetic Braces

If your teeth are generally in the correct bite you might be suitable for what’s called a cosmetic brace. This concentrates purely on moving the front teeth and isn’t designed to correct any major orthodontic problems. As a result, treatment is fast and extremely affordable. You might be able to complete treatment within just a few weeks or months so before you know it, you will have that beautifully straight smile you desire.

Whitening after Straightening

Once your teeth are straightened it’s usually desirable to whiten. Very few adults have naturally white teeth and this can provide that perfect finishing touch to your new smile. A professional tooth whitening treatment is very safe and effective. It will help bring your smile to life, creating that naturally white and youthful look that we all desire.

Once all treatment is completed then don’t forget to wear your retainers. They will ensure your teeth keep looking just as straight and beautiful as the day your braces were removed.