Do Porcelain Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?

Porcelain veneers are custom shells of dental porcelain that can renew your smile. A dentist adheres veneers to your teeth with dental bonding. Still, many people wonder: Will veneers ruin your teeth?

Do Porcelain Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?

Porcelain veneers do not ruin your teeth. However, not all dentists use the same technique when preparing teeth for veneers. So, if a dentist aggressively prepares your natural teeth for veneers, it can drastically change their structure and appearance.

Dentists with advanced cosmetic dentistry training understand when to use no-prep veneers versus conservative preparation. But these techniques do not ruin your teeth:

• No-prep veneers – A dentist bonds veneers to your natural teeth without preparing them. This option works best if your gums do not recede and your teeth require minimal alignment or reshaping.
• Conservative preparation – A cosmetic dentist may recommend minimal tooth preparation to correct imperfections in your teeth and help your veneers fit precisely on your teeth and around your gumline. Still, a conservative dentist will limit tooth preparation to the enamel and not touch the dentin (the layer beneath tooth enamel).

Biomimetics and Porcelain Veneers

Biomimetics studies the function and structure of nature and mimics it in developing materials, machinery, or processes. Many cosmetics dentists use biomimetics when working with a dental ceramist to craft your porcelain veneers. Mimicking natural teeth preserves as much of your tooth structure as possible and provides you with beautiful veneers that will not ruin your teeth. Instead, your teeth will be healthy and function well.

What Is Minimal Preparation for Porcelain Veneers?

Minimal tooth preparation for veneers is a method that affects tooth enamel only. If a conservative dentist recommends tooth preparation to achieve the most natural-looking results, they will only remove a fraction of a millimeter of tooth enamel.

See the article, Establishing a Classification System and Criteria for Veneer Preparations, in the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, June 2019. In the article, Brian LeSage, DDS, defines four classes of porcelain veneer preparation and how they affect your teeth and the lifespan of your veneers.

Dr. LeSage’s tooth preparation classifications include:

• Class I – No-preparation or practically prep-less veneers
• Class II – Minimally invasive or modified prep-less veneers
• Class III – Conservative preparation
• Class IV – Conventional preparation

Additionally, Dr. LeSage published Update to Preparation Design 1 and Clinical Concepts Using the LeSage Veneer Classification System in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry Volume 32, Issue 2, February 25, 2020.

Choosing a Dentist Who Will Not Ruin Your Teeth with Veneers

You can choose a dentist who will not ruin your teeth with veneers by scheduling a consultation first. Select at least two dentists with advanced cosmetic dentistry training—preferably accredited cosmetic dentists. During your consultations, include these steps:

• Discuss your concerns
• Ask if and how the dentist will prepare your teeth for veneers
• Ask how much tooth enamel the dentist would remove for your case
• Ask to see before-and-after patient pictures, including tooth preparation photos

Summary

Porcelain veneers do not ruin your teeth. But not all dentists use the same techniques when preparing your teeth for them. Look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training and a conservative approach to preparing your teeth for porcelain veneers. Read our post on how to get porcelain veneers without regrets. It explains how to find an experienced cosmetic dentist and get your questions answered before asking for veneers.

 

Accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry Brian LeSage, DDS, of Beverly Hills, California, sponsors this post. Get details about porcelain veneers and tooth preparation on Dr. LeSage’s website.

If you live in the Beverly Hills area, schedule a consultation with Dr. LeSage.