A no-prep veneer lab that plans before it builds

Two ways to go conservative

DuraThin veneers are our prepless option. They are generally 0.2 to 0.4mm thin, built up in layered porcelain rather than pressed, and very strong once bonded. They can change shade, correct ortho problems, and add tooth presence with little or no enamel removal.

Feldspathic veneers are our minimal-prep option, hand crafted by our technicians in high quality feldspathic porcelain. When the case needs a small amount of reduction to get the result right, this is usually where we land. For more on the full material lineup, see crown and bridge materials.

Case selection comes first

A no-prep veneer adds porcelain to the outside of the tooth, so the patient has to have room for it. Many patients are good candidates: small teeth, large lips, spaces to close, or a smile that needs more tooth presence. Some are not, and an over-contoured, manufactured look is what happens when that call is wrong. By 2011 Mark had already fabricated more than 10,000 no-prep veneers, and his view is that no-prep cases should give up nothing in esthetics as long as the dentist and ceramist plan the case together.

How we plan a prepless case

• Prototypes. The patient and dentist preview the new smile before anything is made. Prototypes can come from a diagnostic wax-up and silicone matrix, or be hand sculpted in composite chairside. They also show whether any enamel reduction is needed, and they carry shade information to us.
• Space mapping. We make a silicone matrix from the prototype model so the ceramist can see how much room there is from the tooth to the final contour. That tells us which porcelains to use and how much opacity or translucency each tooth needs.
• Layered build-up. Translucent porcelain goes in the gingival, incisal, and interproximal zones so the veneer blends into the tooth. Opaceous porcelain is blended in where we need to mask color and brighten the tooth.
• Shade proof on dark teeth. When a patient has severely discolored teeth, we can make a single prepless veneer first so you and the patient can confirm the final shade is achievable before committing to the full case.

Mark covered this process, with three clinical cases, in his Oral Health article No-Prep Veneers: Enhancing the Natural Tooth.

What to send

Send the impressions or a digital scan, bite registration, the completed RX form, and photos emailed to [email protected]. Cosmetic cases take about two weeks, so schedule the seat about three weeks after you ship. Each cosmetic case includes a prepaid FedEx 2-Day airbill. Full shipping and scheduling policies are on Work With Us, and finished cases are on Before & After.

More from the lab

• DuraThin veneer lab
• Crown and bridge materials: feldspathic, eMax, zirconia, PFM
• Implant crowns, bridges, and custom abutments
• Our lab in Lindon, Utah
• All products and services
• Before and after cases
• Lab forms, shipping, and policies

Questions doctors ask

Do you make both prepless and minimal-prep veneers?

Yes. DuraThin veneers are our prepless option and feldspathic veneers are our minimal-prep option.

Can a prepless veneer cover a dark tooth?

Often, yes. Color is built into the veneer so undesirable color can be blocked out. On severely discolored teeth we can make a single veneer first so you can confirm the shade before the full case.

Can you look at a case before I commit?

Yes. Send models and photos for a case evaluation and Mark will give you his opinion on material choice and esthetics.