Porcelain Veneers: Prepping for Success

mm Written by Andrew Sedler

Porcelain Veneers: Prepping for Success - Dental Lab

One of the most effective cosmetic procedures in the past 30 years is the Porcelain Veneer. This restoration can enhance a person's appearance, which can play a significant role in affecting self-confidence. A lack of confidence can impact lives in many ways, including success at work and in creating relationships. The life-changing effects of veneers make them a highly sought-after procedure. Since the veneer procedure is irreversible, it becomes crucial to implement strategies that create successful cases every time.

Burbank Dental Lab

"Porcelain veneers are a large part of the services provided in most dental practices. These cases are often life-changing, and patients who have their expectations met and often exceeded become one of the essential marketing tools for the dental office."

--- Andrew Sedler, COO

Porcelain Veneer Preparation

One of the keys to a successful veneer case lies in tooth preparation design. Preparation is needed to provide adequate room to achieve desired results, give a clear finish line, and roughen the surface for retention. There are several different approaches to veneer preparation design, as well as some commonly agreed-upon best practices to improve veneer longevity. These include the following:

  • Intra enamel preparation reducing the facial enamel by .3-.5 mm

  • Finish line at the gingival margin

  • No undercuts to provide for a clear path of insertion

  • No sharp angles at the incisal edge

  • Preserve interproximal contacts

  • Prepare an incisal overlap to help evenly distribute occlusal forces

  • Veneer candidates should be free of parafunctional habits

It is important to note, however, that each case is different and may require slight variations of the basic recommendations as well as various material choices. Understanding the final destination will help determine the proper preparation design needed to reach the desired outcome. For example, cases with large spaces, severe discoloration, and/or misaligned teeth require more aggressive preparation. In contrast, a more conservative preparation can be used in cases exhibiting mild discoloration, worn or shortened dentition and/or broken or chipped teeth.

Porcelain veneers often fall within three category types when it is determined to be a viable treatment. Burbank Dental Lab uses three distinct veneer types, the Nano® Press Veneers, SimplyThin Veneers, and Classic Feldspathic Veneers, to address the unique requirements of each case. In addition to selecting the correct veneer type, it is imperative to understand the proper preparation design to provide an adequate foundation. These often fit into three preparation types consisting of minimal, moderate, and a more aggressive preparation.

Minimal Preparation Design

One of the most conservative case types for veneers is those where the teeth are in proper alignment, and they desire only a minor shift in color. These cases are great for making minimal changes to shape and brightening up a smile. They require very little preparation, helping to preserve as much tooth structure as possible. SimplyThin Veneers are an excellent choice for these types of cases. The preparation design for these cases is as follows:

  • Facial tooth preparation - .5mm to .7mm

  • Margin preparation - .3mm chamfer margin at or slightly subgingival

  • Interproximal - extend the prep into the interproximal halfway through the contact

  • Incisal edge - .75mm to 1.5mm reduction with a 90º "butt joint" prep

It is important to note that minimally-prepped veneers are an additive restoration; therefore, the veneer must be built out to > .5mm. Otherwise, the final product can appear bulky.

Moderate Preparation Design

In cases where a more moderate shape and color shift are desired, they require a more moderate preparation design. This preparation design is suited for Classic Feldspathic Veneers or Nano Press veneers and cases where layering is needed. The preparation design for these cases is as follows:

  • Facial tooth preparation - .8 mm to 1.0 mm

  • Margin - .3mm chamfer margin at or subgingival

  • Interproximal - extend the prep into the interproximal halfway through the contact

  • Interproximal "dog leg/elbow" to prevent side views of the interproximal, showing the underlying tooth color.

  • Incisal edge - 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm reduction with a 90º "butt joint" prep

  • To allow for layering porcelain prep the incisal facial plane at a retroclined angle.

Burbank Dental Lab minimal porcelain veneer prep

This moderate preparation design allows for corrections of shade changes of up to 3 shifts in either chroma or values, diastema corrections of less than 1mm, and more moderate alignment issues.

Aggressive Preparation Design

A more aggressive preparation design is necessary in cases where more extreme corrections are desired. This preparation design is suited for Nano Press Veneers (IPS e.max - as shown below) or Classic Feldspathic Veneers. The preparation design for these cases is as follows:

Before-e.Max veneers
BEFORE E.MAX VENEERS
After e.Max veneers
AFTER E.MAX VENEERS
  • Facial tooth preparation - 1.00 mm to 1.50 mm

  • Margin - .3mm chamfer margin at or slightly subgingival

  • Interproximal - create a "slice prep" through the contact to the cingulum going at least .5 mm subgingival

  • Incisal edge - 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm reduction 90º "butt joint" prep

  • To allow for layering porcelain prep the incisal facial plane at a retroclined angle.

This more aggressive preparation design allows for more demanding corrections such as cases with more severe alignment corrections, diastema corrections that exceed 1.00 mm and severely discolored teeth, especially those with dark banding.

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One of the best tools to truly create an ideal preparation design for any given case is to start with a diagnostic wax-up. This may be one of the most frequently mentioned tools. However, it can play a critical role in determining not only case acceptance but case planning, including optimal preparation design as well. At Burbank Dental Lab, our Smiles by Design team can look over your case requirements, wax up the ideal desired outcome, and provide a preparation guide to help ensure each step is carefully planned.

Diagnostic Wax-up

There is no question that the influence of preparation design, coupled with the right material choice, plays a critical role in the success of dental veneers both in terms of patient satisfaction and veneer longevity. While we have outlined some best practices in terms of preparation design, it should be noted that the subject of preparation can be controversial, and many clinicians have a preferred preparation style. No matter the intricacies of the design, veneers have the potential to create amazing results while only removing tooth structure when and where necessary.

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Fabrication
of the future
is here!

Burbank Dental Lab has three new state-of-the-art Carbon M2 printers. We are very excited about the options that these cutting-edge printers will allow us to offer our dental clients. Here are some of the advantages that these printers will begin to deliver to you and your dental practice.

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Carbon offers a highly dependable 3D manufacturing solution for many dental applications with its breakthrough Digital Light Synthesis™ technology, enabled by a wide range of dental materials.