That’s pretty much where I landed too—just uneasy about removing healthy enamel, even if it’s a small amount. My dentist also mentioned the “prepless” option, but he was honest that it’s not a magic fix for everyone. I really like the idea of less drilling, but my cousin had them done and one chipped within a year (she grinds her teeth at night). I wish there was a long-term study on these, especially for teens who might be rougher on their teeth. For now, we’re just monitoring things and hoping my kid outgrows the pen-chewing habit...
That’s a really valid concern about enamel removal, especially for younger patients. I’ve seen mixed outcomes with prepless veneers—sometimes they work well, but if someone has habits like grinding or chewing pens, the risk of chipping definitely goes up. Out of curiosity, did your dentist mention using night guards or anything to help protect veneers in those cases?
Out of curiosity, did your dentist mention using night guards or anything to help protect veneers in those cases?
Yeah, my dentist actually brought up night guards right away—apparently my “stress jaw” is legendary. I wasn’t super thrilled about the idea of sleeping with a mouthguard, but she said it’s pretty much non-negotiable if you grind your teeth. I guess it beats waking up to chipped veneers and a fresh round of panic. Still feels weird thinking about babying my teeth so much, but I’d rather not play “guess which tooth cracks first” at 2am. Anyone else feel like they’re prepping for a boxing match just to go to bed?
I totally get what you mean about feeling like you’re gearing up for a fight every night. When I got my veneers, my dentist was pretty adamant about the night guard too—she even showed me some photos of what can happen if you skip it (not pretty). I grind my teeth like crazy when I’m stressed, so apparently I’m prime candidate for breaking something expensive in my sleep.
The first few nights with the guard were rough. Felt like I was smuggling a chunk of plastic in my mouth, and I kept waking up thinking I’d swallowed it. After a couple weeks though, it became less annoying. Now if I forget to put it in, my jaw actually feels sore in the morning, so I guess it’s doing its job.
It’s kind of wild how much maintenance comes with veneers. Didn’t expect to be this invested in dental gear just to keep them intact. Sometimes I wonder if it’s all a bit much, but then I remember how much those things cost and suddenly the mouthguard doesn’t seem so bad...
I totally relate to the mouthguard struggle. When I got my crowns, my dentist basically gave me a “scared straight” talk about night grinding. At first, I hated the guard—felt like I was sleeping with a retainer from middle school. But after seeing how much damage grinding can do (and the cost to fix it), I got over it fast. Maintenance is annoying, but honestly, it’s way better than shelling out for new veneers or crowns every few years. It’s wild how much stuff goes into keeping a smile “Hollywood ready,” but I guess that’s the price of admission.