Which Veneer Types Work Well For People With Sensitive Teeth?

If you have stained, chipped, or crooked teeth, and you aren't interested in orthodontics or extensive restorations, you may want to talk to your dentist about veneers. Veneers are thin shells of composite, porcelain, or other materials that fit over your natural teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance.

Although veneers are thin, some dentists may still need to shave off a small amount of enamel to fit the veneer and make sure it doesn't look too bulky when placed. If you have sensitive teeth from worn enamel, you may not want to have any more removed. Thankfully, there are some veneer options that can skip this preparatory step; here are three veneer types to consider.  

Composite Veneers 

While a lot of patients want to get porcelain veneers because of their aesthetics, composite veneers can look just as good when applied correctly and when patients avoid staining foods/drinks. Composite veneers can be a better option than porcelain veneers because they do not have to be reshaped as much beforehand. Since the placement of composite is easier than porcelain, less enamel is removed, and the risk of sensitivity is decreased. Composite also has the additional advantage of being more affordable than porcelain veneers.

No-Prep Veneers

As the name suggests, no-prep veneers mean that your teeth will be untouched before the veneers are placed. Typically, veneer shells are manufactured in a dental laboratory, but with no-prep veneers, the material is simply sculpted and bonded to your teeth in the office. To place the veneers, your dentist may use an acid gel to lightly roughen the surface of your enamel. This rougher surface makes it easier for the veneer material to bond with the tooth. Once the veneer is placed, your dentist may use a curing light to harden the material. There are many different brands of no-prep veneers, like Lumineers and Durathin veneers; your dentist can make recommendations based on your preferences and cosmetic goals.

Snap-On Veneers

Snap-on veneers (also known as 'clip-on' or 'removable' veneers) look a lot like a mouthguard or bleaching tray in that they are custom-made prosthetics that fit over your teeth. Snap-on veneers are a great option for people with sensitive teeth since no enamel is removed to fit them, and you can remove these veneers at any time if your teeth are feeling overly sensitive. To make these veneers, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and then send those impressions to a lab where the prosthetic will be created. Snap-on veneers are a great option for people who want to improve the appearance of multiple teeth but want to save money. Snap-on veneers tend to work best for people with discoloration and tooth chips. If teeth are too crowded or crooked, then snap-on veneers may not fit as well as other options.

Reach out to a veneer dentistry service in your area for more information.