Dental veneers are very thin wafers of porcelain or dental composite material that are bonded to the surface of your teeth to give them a uniform, attractive, natural appearance. They can cover such tooth issues as misaligned, short or crooked teeth, discolored, dingy or stained teeth, or smiles with missing teeth or gaps between teeth.

With a typical dental veneer, your dentist will prepare your natural tooth by removing a portion of your natural tooth. This allows the wafer of the veneer to sit on top of the natural tooth without appearing puffy, bulky, or unnatural. Because the tooth that is removed will never return, some patients are reluctant to pursue what is a permanent change to the natural tooth.

As a result, a new kind of veneer has been developed known as “no-prep” or minimal preparation veneer. These options do not typically require the dentist to file down and remove any (or as much) of your natural tooth to ensure proper placement and natural appearance. Patients receiving “no-prep” veneers often require little or no anesthesia for the procedure, allowing them to have a faster and more comfortable dental visit.

The level of natural tooth that is removed depends entirely on the condition and position of the specific teeth being treated. Typically, if the existing teeth are shaped and spaced well, modifications to the tooth surface are minimal and affect only the enamel layer. There is no alteration to the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel).

Your dentist must examine your teeth before determining whether you are a good candidate for no-prep veneers. Your teeth must be in good condition to begin, and any treatments such as fillings or root canal therapies must be completed prior to pursuing any kind of veneers.

Talk to your dentist in Toronto today to determine what steps you can take to achieve your smile goals. Your dentist will discuss your specific dental and cosmetic issues, and will help you determine what dentistry options are available to you.