If you're in the market for dental veneers, you've probably familiarized yourself with the different options available. These are traditional veneers, no-preparation veneers, and clip-on veneers. For legitimate dental problems, you can forget about clip-on veneers. These are purely cosmetic, allowing you to slip on a covering for your teeth to make them look whiter and more uniform in shape, such as for a special occasion. It's like a bald man wearing a toupée. They don't actually fix anything, so for valid dental problems that require veneers, which option is best?

The Differences

It might be helpful to break down the differences between traditional veneers and no-preparation veneers, as your dentist may offer both. Just what they end up offering depends on your specific needs. 

Traditional Veneers

Traditional veneers are custom-made for you in a dental cosmetic lab. Your dentist will perform a procedure known as enamel recontouring, using a small bur to shave off a small amount of your dental enamel. This amount will reflect the depth of the veneer, so for example, if the veneers are to be one millimeter, one millimeter of enamel will be removed.

Preparation Work

After this removal is complete, your dentist will take a mold of your teeth, and this creates the specifications to be sent to the dental lab, who will then make the veneers. Once these are sent to the dentist, you will have a subsequent appointment to bond the veneers to your teeth, and that's it. The process is simple and painless, although some people might want to avoid any enamel removal, as this part of the procedure is irreversible. 

Avoiding Preparation

If enamel removal can be avoided, no-prep veneers might be recommended. These are directly applied to teeth without the need for enamel recontouring. They're only appropriate when the underlying issue with your teeth (creating the need for veneers in the first place) isn't all that severe. The size and shape of your teeth also play a role, since for some people, no-prep veneers can make their teeth look conspicuously large. So which option is best?

Choosing Veneers

Traditional veneers are slightly more expensive than their no-preparation counterparts, but they last longer. They're the frontrunner in most cases, although many people opt for no-preparation veneers to save themselves a little money and time. But it's generally a better choice to invest a little more for traditional veneers, as it pays off in the long run. However, for minor issues, no-preparation veneers can be perfectly sufficient.

The best veneers will ultimately depend on a number of different factors, and your dentist will be able to guide you through your specific options and why these options are relevant to you.

For more information, contact a dental cosmetic lab like Reliance Dental Designs.