All About Lumineer, Durathin, Vivaneers, and other Minimal and “no-Prep” veneers, are they worth it?

For those of us looking for veneers to help with our smile, there are some ceramic options, but there are also other options too that cosmetic dentistry people can use in order to make their teeth look great. This is a wonderful alternative to the traditional dental veneers, and for many people who can’t get composite bonding since this isn’t right for them. However, not all of them are as minimal and as easy as traditional types of veneers. With traditional veneers, the minimal prep or “no-prep” alternatives are adhesively bond to the front surface of the teeth, but with these other options, the dentist doesn’t have to grind, cut, or put down any of the tooth structure in order to properly place these. Some people might need to reduce their tooth surface still though, but this is a better option for those who can’t normally get the normal types of veneers, and it also doesn’t need a local anesthetic, so it is a lot more comfortable for the average person, and much quicker too.

So What Are These? 

As you might know, traditional veneers typically require you to have some of the tooth structure removed, and sometimes it’s past the outermost part of the tooth, which is called the enamel, so it is an irreversible procedure. This can be put on the enamel in a way that isn’t invasive though, and in a way that doesn’t require the enamel to be removed.

Whereas with traditional porcelain veneers are used, they usually give an anesthetic to the person, but with this type of veneer, you don’t need to have that.

Those patients that do undergo these oftentimes may also get some tooth modifications on this, but they are minimal and affect only your enamel layer, so there is no penetration into the dentin itself, which is where the area between your tooth and enamel are.

So these are used for pretty much anyone who has chipped or cracked teeth, gaps, or in general need something similar to a traditional veneer, but they can’t get the traditional for whatever reason or another.

This can also be used for overcrowded, worn, small teeth, and in general, is a good alternative for those who can’t get the normal kind.

Any Considerations? 

What are some considerations with these alternatives? Well, you should understand that these are a cosmetic dentistry alternatives, and they aren’t the only ones.

While veneers are oftentimes called the instant orthodontics for teeth that are cracked or crooked, they aren’t good for misaligned teeth. In those instances, you might want to get braces or a braces alternative in that case, since it’s sometimes better for you in the long run.

You also may notice that if you want to get a smile that’s whiter and brighter, you might get one of those in-office, or take home teeth whitening kits that are good.

There are also alternatives to this type of technique, which is called bonding, and it’s used to create these composite veneers within the teeth at the dental office, and oftentimes, this one uses almost no preop of the tooth surface either so it’s a good one to consider as well for most people who want an alternative to the traditional veneers

These “no prep” veneers are also regarded by the dentists who use these as an alternative for some cases, but not for all of them, but because the person who makes these advertises them as a “no shot, no drill, no pain” option, oftentimes, these are less invasive and less costly than other types of cosmetic procedures. They can be used for smile makeovers too. They also tend to be cheaper too than the other alternatives, which can rack up in price if you’re getting a lot of them.

But, there is the argument that they may not hold up as well, depending on your own oral history and habits that you have. However, that’s ultimately up to you as a person, and how you take care of your teeth. While veneers aren’t meant to last forever, these can last a long time if you treat them in the same way you’d treat traditional teeth and take care of them as you need to.

You also can get other types of different types of no-prep veneers, so you’ll have a lot of different options with this.

Any pre-treatment considerations? 

There are a few things you might want to consider before you get these. For starters, your dentist will make sure your teeth are in proper condition to get something like this. In cases where costs are the main issue and the patient’s condition is just a small crack or chip, they may just give you composite bonding instead. While it isn’t as durable, and oftentimes more prone to staining than the porcelain options, this is a less expensive and a quicker option for cosmetic dentistry.

If you’ve been curious about how to get this type of treatment, the easy solution is to literally ask your dentist and find out if you’re qualified for this type of procedure.

You can literally ask your dentist if they can give you these and discuss some of the different issues, and your dentist will, in turn, explain the different options that you have for your needs, an which one they think will be best for you, and your wallet too.

Will Insurance Over These? 

That honestly doesn’t happen for the most part, and that’s because it’s considered a cosmetic procedure in many cases. It also is an elective procedure, just like how teeth whitening is. But, there are ways to finance this, such as via Care Credit, Enhance Patient Finance, and others. Sometimes, if you can argue that it’s for the health of the teeth, you can get these fully covered, but oftentimes, that’s not the case.

But, you can talk to your dentist about the payment options that you have and different alternative treatment options for this as well, for example, if you have an issue with misaligned teeth, you might be able to get that covered with a dental plan, or at a lower cost with the right insurance plan. With something like that, figuring out the costs and how you can effectively make sure that you’re getting the best results possible is ultimately up to you. Ut, if you’re someone who wants a better, more rewarding experience with your teeth, and someone who wants something different to help with your own oral health and wellness, there are different options.

But, what’s cool about these alternatives, is they ten to be cheaper than other options that are out there, and less of a problem for you too. If you want a cheaper alternative to the veneers, which can get costly if you have to et a lot of these, or if you know that your mouth cant’ handle the typical oral treatments that you’d get with veneers, or if you have a thinner enamel, this is a much better option. And hey, less work on your end and the dentist’s end, so everyone wins at the end of the day, right?