Veneers vs No Prep Veneers vs Crowns
When it comes to treating broken or discovered teeth, your dentist is likely to suggest veneers, no prep veneers and crowns. Although each of these options aims to help you get a beautiful smile, they are more different than you think. There are different types of veneers and whilst most are made using porcelain, some are made in resin and require a great deal of preparation to ensure that your teeth are ready.
On the other hand, no prep veneers (Lumineers or GlamSmile) are a different breed of veneers that is only provided by certain dentists. They tend to be much easier to apply, cheaper, and thinner. As for crowns, they are normally recommended when your teeth have been badly damaged and cover the entire teeth, unlike veneers or no prep veneers which only cover the front part of the teeth. To help you decide which option to consider, this post takes a closer look at the three different options.
Veneers
In the simplest of words, veneers provide a cosmetic coating to your teeth. They are resistant to staining and aim to provide you with white and glossy teeth. However, veneers tend to last for around 8 years. Their edges are not as durable.
Generally, veneers are recommended if you have mis-shaped, chipped, brown or yellow teeth. In addition to this, you can also get veneers if your teeth are showing signs of staining or decay which you cannot otherwise cover-up. As they are customised to your face, teeth and smile, your teeth would need to be shaped to make way for them.
In order to get veneers, you will need to undergo lengthy preparation. A multistep process is followed for applying veneers. It takes around 2 to 4 weeks for the procedure to be completed.
| PROS | CONS |
| longer lasting | permanent (will need to replace whole thing if they crack or damaged) |
| more opaque and less see through | more expensive |
| better at hiding tooth decay and discoloration | have to reshape some parts of teeth |
| complete control over shape, size, colour of the teeth you want. In other words, superior customization options which leads to enhanced looks |
No Prep Veneers
Also known as no-prep veneers, Glam Smile or Lumineers are a veneer brand that offers advanced dental work and requires less preparation. They are made using ultra-thin laminates. Lumineers are smooth and used to treat discoloured teeth. They are also much thinner which is why they are not the best option if your teeth are severely discoloured. As they are mainly stuck on with minimal to no grinding involved, they may be alittle bulkier than usual and may appear thicker and stick out alittle.
The good thing about No Prep Veneers is that they do not require any teeth grinding or if any, very minimal grinding. In fact, the dentist would use a semi-customized set to meet your requirements. You should be done within two appointments. As there is no preparation required, the dentist would only take an impression. It should around 2 to 4 weeks for your customized lumineers to arrive. People opt for lumineers as they are semi-permanent. This means that they cause minimal damage are they are removed, unlike veneers.
| PROS | CONS |
| no preparation or reshaping of teeth needed | don't last as long as traditional veneers |
| slightly less expensive | not as good as hiding any damaged parts of your teth |
| semi-permanent (can be removed with minimal damage to teeth) | not as customizable as traditional veneers. Comes with a templated set that you can only choose from |
| can look a little bulkier and bigger |
Crowns
Crowns are recommended when your teeth have been severely damaged. Crowns cover and protect a bigger surface area than veneers do. When veneers or lumineers are unable to get the job done, you can count on dental crowns to come to the rescue. Generally, crowns are indicated to help preserve the bite as they strengthen your teeth and prolong their life.
Conclusion
Now that you know the differences between veneers, no prep veneers and crowns, ask any Tooth Heaven dentists to help you choose the best one for your teeth!
There may be alternatives to veneers, such as braces, clear aligners and whitening that would enhance your smile without going down the path of veneers.
However, if you're serious about veneers, talk to the Tooth Heaven dentists and we can advise the pros and cons of each options better based on your specific goals and your teeth - and also your budget!
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