Chairside Magazine Volume 2, Issue 1 - Glidewell Dental Labs

No-Prep vs. Minimal-Prep Veneers on the Same Patient
No-Prep vs. Minimal-Prep Veneers on the Same Patient
Figure 1
Figure 2 Figure 3
Figure 5
Figure 6 Figure 7
Figure 4
Figure 1: Greg’s Pre-Operative Smile
You will notice when he smiles that he does not show the incisal edge of his maxillary anterior teeth. However, you will notice
after his teeth are restored, that his smile becomes more broad and more authentic and the incisal edges of the maxillary anterior
teeth become apparent.
Figure 2: Facial View of Pre-Operative Smile
A close-up view of the maxillary anterior teeth shows numerous esthetic issues, some more dramatic than others. A traumatic
fracture of the incisal edge of tooth #8 has left it 1mm shorter than tooth #9. The gingival levels on teeth #6, 8, 9 & 11 are
roughly in the correct position, but the gingival levels on tooth #7 and especially #10 are too far apical. Short of a gingival graft,
the only way to correct this problem would be to do a gingivectomy on #6, 8, 9 & 11 to match the levels of the lateral incisors,
but that would leave these other teeth with clinical crowns that were too long.
Figure 3: Right Lateral View of Pre-Operative Smile
In addition to the broken incisal edge on tooth #8, it is also apparent that tooth #7 is too short incisally. Teeth #6 & #7 also have
an excessively large incisal embrasure between them in addition to a small diastema.
Figure 4: Left Lateral View of Pre-Operative Smile
From this view, it is apparent that tooth #10 is angled to the facial making it too facially prominent. In a no-prep case like this,
I refer to this as a Facial Limiting Factor (FLF). Since this is a no-prep case by definition, all the teeth are going to get at least
0.3mm thicker on the facial. If the FLF is too noticeable, it will change a case from no-prep to minimal-prep.
Figure 8
Figure 5: Greg’s Smile After No-Prep Veneers
Notice how his smile is now a full smile with his lower lip paralleling the incisal edges of the maxillary anterior teeth. Like many
patients, being happy with their anterior teeth leads to more natural smiles.
Figure 6: Facial View of Post-Operative No-Prep Veneer Smile
I think we can all agree there has been a dramatic improvement from figure 2 to this picture. Essentially, all of the cosmetic
objections the patient originally had have been eliminated by the no-prep veneers. Interestingly, even our FLF has been somewhat
nullified by the no-prep veneer. Because tooth #10 was so short, the ceramist was able to increase its length while bringing
the incisal edge back toward the lingual. This has created an illusion that #10 is not as facially prominent as it actually is. The
only time I see this happen is when the FLF tooth is lengthened by the ceramist.
Figure 7: Right Lateral View of Post-Operative No-Prep Veneer Smile
Compare this picture with figure 3 and note the multiple esthetic improvements. For example, the incisal embrasure between
teeth #6 & #7 that was too far open in figure 3 has been closed in figure 7. The deficient distal-marginal ridge on tooth #6 has
been corrected in figure 7 giving tooth #6 a more pleasing overall shape and appearance. The broken incisal edge on tooth #8
has also been corrected.
Figure 8: Left Lateral View of Post-Operative No-Prep Veneer Smile
Compare this photo with figure 4 and note the multiple esthetic improvements. For example, the insufficient length of tooth
#10 has been corrected. Tooth #9 was a concern to me because the tooth was nearly ideal prior to treatment. Placing a no-prep
veneer on this tooth would not make it look any better, except that the shade will blend in with the adjacent teeth. In figure 8
however, tooth #9 does not appear to be too large. We also dodged a bullet on tooth #10, which was facially prominent prior
to treatment, as it blends in reasonably well. Í
No-Prep vs. Minimal-Prep on the Same Patient
No-Prep vs. Minimal-Prep on the Same Patient