Traditional Veneers vs. No-Prep Veneers

Veneers are a popular treatment in cosmetic dentistry, as they help to correct flaws and greatly improve the way damaged teeth look. There are two kinds of veneers that patients typically receive: traditional veneers and a kind that are called “no-prep.” Applying traditional veneers first requires that natural teeth be polished and buffed, during which a small amount of dental enamel is removed. This process intimidates some patients who opt for the no-prep veneer variety instead.

There are some things you should know if you’re hoping to get natural-looking and stunning results with cosmetic veneer therapy:

Prepped Veneers are Better at Changing the Color of Teeth

Veneers that require tooth preparation are marginally thicker than no-prep veneers. This thickness does not add bulk to teeth, as enamel is shaped prior to placement, but it does allow your cosmetic dentist to more efficiently improve the color of your natural teeth. For some patients, their teeth have turned gray from aging or the use of certain medications, or are discolored to the point that teeth bleaching doesn’t produce results. For these patients, veneers are the appropriate alternative therapy – but because no-prep veneers are thinner, they are not able to mask the color of heavily stained teeth as well.

Only Traditional Veneers can Alter Alignment

Veneers are also sometimes called instant orthodontics, as they are able to make teeth appear straighter. But this is only possible through the preparation process. When teeth are buffed in order to accommodate a veneer, dentists are able to re-create a tooth shape and position that is more even and well-aligned. This is not possible with no-prep veneers.

No-Prep Veneers Add Bulk to Teeth

While it’s true that no-prep veneers are thinner, anything you add to the surface of a natural tooth –without first preparing it– only creates bulk. No-prep veneers can sometimes produce an effect of unnatural looking teeth.

Choosing the Right Veneers Therapy is about Understanding your Goals

Patients who are interested in conservative treatment, which does not require alteration of teeth, select no-prep veneers; however, patients who need complete smile transformations, which include whitening and changing the shape and alignment of teeth, are best matched to traditional veneers.
Our Dallas dental office helps transform smiles with traditional veneer therapy. If you have any questions about getting porcelain veneers, contact our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jeff Colquitt, for more information.

How TMJ Disorder Can Affect Your Health

TMD or TMJ disorder is a condition that many dental patients have in some form. TMJ issues are often characterized by clicking and popping in jaw joints, and are the cause of bruxism, or teeth grinding. While it’s common, not many patients understand how TMD can have a negative effect on your health and wellness, requiring that it be treated as soon as possible to prevent other dental problems. TMJ issues can create:

Damage to Teeth

The night-time teeth grinding (bruxism) that comes with TMD can present significant problems for your teeth. All of that extra stress wears down dental enamel quickly. This can eventually affect biting and chewing, as well as the overall appearance of your smile. Teeth that have been ground down by bruxism have to be restored by your dentist with a dental crown, which can be costly. However, when caught early, a mouth guard can be used to prevent damage to teeth.

Stress on Jaw Joints

Involuntary jaw clenching and the pressure of persistently grinding teeth means that the joints and muscles connecting both jaw arches are working overtime. This can produce tightness and soreness in your jaw. Clenching and grinding is also the cause of the clicking and popping sounds that many patients with TMD hear when they move their jaw, chew, or open their mouths to take a bite of food.

Aches and Pains

Unfortunately, jaw pain does not remain localized. Soreness or discomfort in jaw joints can radiate outward to cause neck and shoulder pain, with the persistent stress on teeth and muscles also producing more and frequent headaches for TMD patients. Some patients also experience a sense of ringing in their ears as symptoms progress.

TMJ Therapy

Often, the best way to treatment TMJ issues is to establish a healthy bite by obtaining a protective oral appliance from your dentist. Improved occlusion helps properly distribute stress on joints and a mouth guard protects teeth from the effects of night-time grinding.  Dr. Jeff Colquitt at our Dallas dental office helps patients find relief from TMJ pain, restores teeth, and builds healthy bite alignment. Please call our team for more information about side-effects of TMD and how we can help treat them.

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