Why Choose Traditional Veneers over No-Prep Veneers?

For years, porcelain veneers were the only option for people who wanted veneer therapy. However, in the last decade, no-prep veneers have become the newest way to aesthetically improve your smile. But does newer automatically equal better? In this case, many patients who are interested in veneers are likely to be better off sticking to the tried-and-true permanent porcelain variety that we're all familiar with.

What Exactly are Removable Veneers?

Removable veneers are made to be especially thin. Because of their reduced thickness, patients’ teeth do not need to be buffed or prepared. This allows dentists to remove veneers, when needed, and reveal a patient’s in-tact natural smile. 

Removable Veneers Compared to Traditional Veneers

These two kinds of veneers share some similarities. Both traditional and no-prep, removable veneers hide imperfections and can be color-matched to your natural teeth. However, there are some important differences that often make traditional veneers the better choice for cosmetic smile improvement:

Traditional porcelain veneers are, by design, thicker than no-prep veneers. In order to be placed on teeth and promote a natural appearance, dental enamel must first be prepared by some light buffing. The thickness of traditional veneers allows Dr. Yeary to more predictably change the color and shape of your teeth. Thinner, no-prep veneers may not do a good job of concealing deep teeth staining.

No-prep veneers can indeed be removed if necessary and are thinner than traditional veneers, preventing the need for the preparation process. However, even as thin as they are, adding a no-prep veneer to unaltered tooth structure will make teeth look slightly thicker. No-prep veneers then only work well for patients with thin, pushed-back teeth, and do not produce ideal results in all cases.

Learn More about Veneer Therapy

If you want veneers to improve the appearance of your smile for long term, traditional veneers provide effective results for a wider rage of patients with mild to moderate cosmetic flaws on teeth. For more information on veneers in Plano, TX, contact Plano Smiles.