Understanding Tooth Reduction for Porcelain Veneers

In a Glance:

Porcelain veneers are a popular and dependable cosmetic dentistry solution, recognized for their ability to conceal imperfections such as cracked or chipped teeth, misalignments, and discoloration. They are known for their durability and longevity, often lasting up to 15 years or more.

While porcelain veneers cost more than options such as composite veneers, they are unparalleled in providing a natural, confident smile. Additionally, compared to other procedures, the process of getting porcelain veneers is minimally invasive, requiring only minimal tooth reduction.

Defining tooth reduction

What do we mean by tooth reduction? Tooth reduction, or what dentists call “tooth preparation,” is the process of removing tooth structure (usually enamel) to create space for your porcelain veneers. It’s a critical step in the procedure, because tooth-reduction is a non-reversible process, meaning that once any amount of enamel is removed, it’s never coming back. Therefore, it has to be done right to ensure aesthetic and long-lasting porcelain veneers.

Your teeth are made of several layers, the outer of which is called enamel. It’s what we see when we look at our “pearly whites.” It’s also the hardest and densest substance in your body, harder than any bone! The density of your enamel is what typically protects you against sensitivity and is your first line of defense against cavities. Therefore, with regard to porcelain veneers, and cosmetic dentistry in general, preserving enamel whenever possible is important, as we don’t want sensitive teeth or cavities.

When the time comes to “glue” on your porcelain veneers in a process called “bonding,” enamel also plays an important role. Bonding porcelain veneers to enamel has a much stronger bond strength compared to bonding to dentin, the second layer of your teeth. This means your porcelain veneers are much less likely to come off than if they’re bonded to dentin.

The tooth reduction procedure

What is involved in the tooth reduction for your porcelain veneers procedure? Generally, the process involves administering an anesthetic so that the patient is comfortable. The dentist then uses a series of diamond-coated dental burs in a dentist’s drill. These burs have different shapes, lengths and thicknesses, and varieties of coarseness or grit. There is no general sequence in how these are used, as each patient is different, and dentists all have their preference of what burs work best for them.

How long this process takes depends on many factors, such as how many porcelain veneers you are receiving, the condition and starting position of your teeth, and the experience of your dentist. A dentist who has performed the procedure many times will be more efficient than one who has only watched a YouTube video about the procedure.

In general, depending on the above factors, the process can take anywhere between 2-4 hours. Tooth reduction shouldn’t have a significant impact on your daily life, as your teeth will be covered with temporary veneers while a dental lab fabricates your porcelain veneers. Your dentist will go over some do’s and don’ts, mostly related to diet, so that the temporary veneers don’t come off or break.

Factors that affect the procedure

Several factors determine the extent of tooth reduction, beginning with your starting teeth position. If, for example, the teeth are small, well-aligned, and not flared out toward the lip, your teeth will require less reduction than teeth that are overlapped, crowded, or flared out toward your lip. The more ideal the starting position of your teeth, the more conservatively your dentist can reduce your teeth, resulting in less sensitivity and a stronger bond of the porcelain veneers to your enamel.

Your desired aesthetic goals are another factor. Are you trying to make your teeth look shorter and less bulky? If so, your dentist will need to remove more enamel to make that happen. Are you trying to make your teeth look larger and more pronounced? In this case, less reduction will be needed.

One other factor to consider is the material thickness of your porcelain veneers. Most dentists will tell you that porcelain veneers should be 1-2 mm in thickness. Veneers that are thinner are more likely to crack and break. Those that are thicker are likely to be too bulky or opaque and fake-looking. As such, the final desired position and thickness of your porcelain veneers also play a role in how much your teeth are reduced.

Not everyone’s teeth are the same. Not everyone has the same amount of enamel. What if you have thin or weak enamel? In this case, your dentist should certainly make sure to take the above precautions. In other words, it’s better if your teeth are in good alignment and cavity-free so that enamel can be conserved where possible.

Managing tooth sensitivity

In general, good oral hygiene is paramount in maintaining your porcelain veneers. Keep in mind that teeth get cavities, not veneers. As such, whether a lot of enamel remains, or none at all, keeping the margins and seams of your veneers free of plaque and bacteria should ensure their longevity.

However, even with all of these precautions in place, post-operative teeth sensitivity is possible. Often, this happens because of aggressively prepared teeth where your dentist removes a lot of tooth structure, or because the temporary veneers or final porcelain veneers do not seal your teeth effectively, leaving a gap between the tooth structure and the veneer. Other factors can lead to sensitivity as well, and you should feel encouraged to discuss this topic with your dentist.

As a whole, however, if a skilled cosmetic dentist plans and executes your procedure well, any sensitivity you experience will be temporary and will disappear on its own. Your dentist can apply fluoride treatments to your teeth to alleviate sensitivity and reduce its duration. Again, you should discuss this with your dentist.

Conclusion

Porcelain veneers offer a durable and natural-looking solution for various dental imperfections. The tooth reduction process, although non-reversible, is minimally-invasive and vital for high-quality, long-lasting results. A skilled cosmetic dentist will help you manage post-operative sensitivity and emphasize the importance of good oral hygiene to ensure the longevity of your porcelain veneers. Ultimately, with proper care, your porcelain veneers will provide a confident smile that can last for years.

I hope this article has helped to answer any questions you have regarding tooth reduction as it relates to the porcelain veneers process. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can be of further assistance. Good luck!