Can anyone get no-prep veneers?
No. Many people come in saying, “I heard everything is no-prep these days.” No-prep veneers are a treatment that places thin porcelain on the teeth without grinding them, so the teeth become thicker and come forward by however much is placed. That's why placing them on teeth that already stick out makes them look like they stick out even more.
So before finding the teeth that can be done, I first sort out the ones that can't. Saying “Everyone can get it” isn't something said after looking at those teeth.
Which teeth can't get no-prep veneers?
| Current teeth | No-prep | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Pushed forward | Not possible | They come forward even more by however much is placed |
| Overlapping a lot | Not possible | Trying to hide the overlap shifts the thickness to one side |
| Dark inner color (such as teeth that had root canal treatment) | Not possible | The underlying color shows through thin porcelain |
| Skeletal protruding mouth | Not possible | It's the jawbone, not the teeth, that sticks out |
| Sitting toward the inside, small teeth, small gaps | Possible | There's room to build up |
A skeletal protruding mouth is a condition where the jawbone sits forward, so the mouth won't go back whether you place porcelain or grind the teeth. Related information is summarized in Can a protruding mouth be fixed with porcelain veneers?
When are no-prep veneers a good fit?
If the teeth sit toward the inside, are narrow, or have gaps, there's room to place veneers. Small teeth (microdontia) and a small gap between the front teeth (midline diastema) are typical examples. The same conditions apply: there must be enough enamel, and the bite must not concentrate on one tooth. Cases where length can be added, such as front teeth with slightly worn or short edges, also tend to have room.
Can't you just cover the teeth thickly to avoid grinding?
If thick restorations are placed to avoid grinding, the gum side looks bulky and they hit the lower teeth first. On the other hand, if you start grinding the teeth to match the thickness, there's no point in no-prep. If there isn't room, the treatment is changed. The thickness issue is covered in detail in Do no-prep veneers make front teeth look thick?
What should you be careful about after getting no-prep veneers?
Habits like biting off hard things with your front teeth, grinding your teeth, and biting your nails or pens can easily chip the edges, so it's best to cut back on them. If you grind your teeth heavily, I also recommend a night guard worn while sleeping. The bonded margin is a spot where plaque easily builds up, so take care of it with floss and regular scaling, and if you see a gap or discoloration at the margin, polishing or rebonding it early is better for protecting the tooth.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
Brinate, Wonjin Dental's no-prep veneer, is done without anesthesia or temporary teeth and comes in three types depending on how it's made.
| Type | Thickness | Time | Price per tooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (machine-made) | 0.3mm | Same day possible | ₩330,000 |
| Build-up (layered by hand) | 0.1mm | About 1 week | ₩550,000 |
| Platinum | 0.1mm | About 2 weeks | ₩990,000 |
Prices are as of September 2026, VAT included (cosmetic treatment), and can be found on the full fee list. The machine-made type has even color and is quick, while the hand-layered type has more translucent edges and matches color in its layers. Neither one makes teeth that stick out suitable. About 1 week after bonding, I see you again to refine contact points that showed up with use, and I check the bite at regular checkups. When something can't be done, I say so up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is it not possible even if the teeth stick out only a little?
If it's very slight and the bone is in its proper position, I look into it. Whether it's slight is decided by the position of the teeth and bone, not by how your lips look in the mirror.
What can be done about a front tooth that darkened after root canal treatment?
It's hard to hide with thin porcelain, so I first look at lightening the inner color with non-vital whitening, or at treatments that cover more, such as a crown. It depends on how dark the color is.
How many teeth do no-prep veneers start from?
You can do just one or two, but if the difference in color or length from the neighboring teeth stands out, it's sometimes better to do more. The number is decided by the area visible when you smile and the proportions.
If the inner color is dark, can't you just make them opaque?
Making them opaque to hide the color tends to make them look flat. If the brightness you want can't be achieved at a thin thickness, I tell you that no-prep isn't possible.
