Prepared and Minimal Prep Veneers

Drs. Brian LeSage & Dennis Wells

Two Viewpoints:

Two dental professionals on the treatment of two modalities.

Drs. Brian LeSage and Dennis Wells address some “myths vs.

realities” regarding prepared and “prep-less” veneers.

Adapted from the full article, which originally appeared in the AACD’s Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Summer 2011 issue.

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LeSage: Preoperative retracted view showing diastemas, slight rotations, and asymmetries. Orthodontic treatment was declined even after an Invisalign work-up and ClinCheck.

Bis-acrylic placed on unprepared teeth using a putty matrix made from the diagnostic wax-up as a preparatory guide. Demonstrates full and final contour of definitiveminimally invasive porcelain restorations.

Depth-cutting grooves using a .5-mm depth-cutting bur directly into the bis-acrylic. Red and blue pencil lines are placed in grooves for ease of visibility.

Bis-acrylic preparatory guide removed from ##6-8, showing minimal reduction to enamel to achieve diagnostic workup result.

Bis-acrylic removed from ##6-11. Note some areas have not even been touched; no preparation was needed in those zones except to be contiguous with the remaining preparation.

Occlusal view showing depth-cutting grooves. No area has even .5 mm of prepared enamel.

The myth that prepared veneers need to be .75 to 1 mm in depth, which leads toexposed dentin, has contributed to over-preparation in many cases.

Final preparation to allow for diastema closures and rotations. There is no dentin exposure with the aid of preplanning and a bis-acrylic preparatory guide.

All-porcelain restorations on ##6-11 showing desired esthetic outcome. This outcome is expected when bondingexclusively to enamel and with minimal preparation with gingival health in mind.

Retracted image demonstrating esthetic and gingival health issues that can arise with improper diagnostic and esthetic planning with prep-less veneers.

Wells: Prep-less (DURAthin; Brentwood, TN) veneers, ##5-12.

Prep-less veneers, ##5-12. Note the pleasing emergence profile and excellent tissue health.

Feathered “infinity” margins at 1:1. Note undetectable margins and excellent tissue health.

Liquid dam used to protect tissue during final polishing.

Thin, prep-less porcelain veneers are very strong and durable once bonded to 100% enamel; they have as good as or better

long-term results than prepared veneers.

Zekrya retraction instrument (DMG America; Englewood, NJ) used to protect tissue while finishing.

Five-year recall of prep-less veneers, ##5-12, demonstrating excellent durability and stability.

Prep-less (DURAthin) veneers, ##5-12. Note inherent warmth of

color in the gingival one-third.

When an increase in volume is desired or can be tolerated, prep-less veneers are an incredible service to offer to patients, with multiple benefits and minimal risks. Much like medicine, dentistry is steadily moving toward less invasive procedures

and this trend is not likely to change.

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