How to Get Laminate Veneers in Your 50s Without Tooth Reduction?

Hello.

This is Apgujeong Yonsei Baro Dental Clinic.

At Apgujeong Yonsei Baro Dental Clinic, we only perform no-prep laminate veneers.

Many middle-aged patients come to us looking for no-prep laminate veneers.

There are many reasons for getting laminate veneers.

Because they do not like the shape of their teeth

Because they do not like the color of their teeth

Because they want to restore worn-down areas

Because black triangles are visible

And so on.

Today, I will introduce a case in which no-prep laminate veneers were placed up to the premolars for a patient whose concerns were black triangles and tooth color.

In particular, I will explain what steps are needed when doing no-prep laminate veneers not only on the upper teeth but also on the lower teeth.

23.07

This is a patient in their 50s who wanted no-prep laminate veneers because of color and black triangles.

As shown by the blue arrows on the front teeth, there were various crowns mixed in, so the sizes and colors did not match, and the patient wanted treatment that would make everything look more unified overall.

23.07

On the upper arch, one front tooth and one premolar were protruding, so if we did not want to reduce tooth structure, partial orthodontic treatment of the front teeth was necessary.

We decided to treat 8 teeth on the upper arch, including the premolars, and 5 remaining teeth on the lower arch with no-prep laminate veneers, while leaving the existing crowns in place.

This patient lived overseas, and between orthodontic treatment and the laminate veneer procedure, they came to Korea on a same-day schedule for treatment and then departed.

Counting from the first visit, they came in 6 times for orthodontic treatment and 3 times for the veneer procedure, including fitting.

We did our best to deliver results that made the plane ticket worthwhile.

Let me show you the results first.

Usually, no-prep laminate veneers are not often done on the lower teeth and are placed only on the upper teeth.

The reason is as follows:

If the bite is normal, the back of the upper teeth and the lower teeth touch as shown in the diagram.

After placing no-prep laminate veneers on the lower front teeth, the edges of the lower teeth become covered by the veneers.

This area becomes slightly thicker than the original tooth by the thickness of the veneer, and as a result, there is a point that makes contact first every time you chew.

This can cause the veneer to crack from bite impact or create wear on the upper teeth.

This could be easily solved by grinding away the contact surface between the upper and lower teeth, but then it would no longer be no-prep veneer treatment and would become veneer treatment with tooth reduction.

Therefore, if you want no-prep laminate veneers on the lower teeth as well, you need a preparatory step like the one shown in the diagram, in which orthodontic treatment is first used to create space between the upper and lower teeth by the thickness of the veneers.

This preparation does not take very long.

If partial orthodontic appliances such as MTA or 2D are attached only to the front teeth, alignment can be established in 3 to 4 months,

and only then does 100% no-prep laminate veneer treatment become possible.

We attached MTA on the upper arch and a discreet 2D appliance on the lower arch, then carried out front-tooth orthodontic treatment for 4 months first.

23.07~23.11 Orthodontic treatment completed

After 4 months of partial orthodontic treatment for the front teeth, alignment was established and the protruding teeth moved into their proper positions.

23.07~23.11 Orthodontic treatment completed

The front tooth crown that was as large as a canine was reshaped by interproximal reduction for balance, adjusted to front-tooth size, and we then moved into full veneer preparation.

23.11 Fitting

This is the fitting process.

Everyone has different preferences for design and color.

People in their 20s often want a laminate veneer design and color that look noticeably beautiful, even if they are a little unnatural, while those in their 40s and older place greater value on naturalness.

After modifying the fitting shape

If the interdental gap between the teeth is too tightly closed like on the left, it may feel neatly aligned,

but it can also feel a little cramped and artificial.

Because the patient wanted a natural look, we rounded the tooth shape and intentionally created some space, then revised the design.

23.07~23.12

The laminate veneers have also been bonded.

Treatment was completed up to the premolars behind the canines, with 8 teeth on the upper arch and 5 on the lower arch treated.

The existing crowns on the lower front teeth were kept, with only the size and shape adjusted.

23.07~23.12

You can see that the overall size balance of the lower front teeth has improved.

Most of the black triangles have also been hidden.

The design was made so that not only flossing care but also long-term maintenance could be kept healthy without areas that were excessively cut back.

Our clinic has the treatment philosophy that there is no need to become beautiful at the expense of oral health.

Even when doing no-prep laminate veneers, gum health always comes first.

23.07~23.12

23.07~23.12

As for how thin the no-prep laminate veneers are,

even though the teeth were not reduced at all, they were made with almost no difference in thickness from the original teeth.

23.07~23.12

It feels as bright as if the lights were turned on in the face.

When you come for laminate veneers and are suddenly told that orthodontic treatment should be done first,

most people hesitate.

Even though it was for the patient’s dental health.

Still, by following through well, we achieved a healthy and good result.

Partial orthodontic treatment of the front teeth can be completed in just 3 to 4 months, making 100% no-prep laminate veneers possible.

So, that concludes this review of no-prep laminate veneers in your 50s.