Tooth preparation for ceramic veneers: when less is more

Historically, preparations for ceramic veneers have varied from extremely aggressive to a minimal reduction or a lack of preparation. Today, we are moving toward minimally invasive dentistry with the philosophy that less is more. Less tooth reduction means more adhesion and clinical longevity. What must be considered when performing minimally invasive preparations is that in a significant number of cases the dental element will receive a veneer that will modify its final contour. This is quite common in cases of conoid teeth, diastemas or loss of dental structure by abrasion, erosion or attrition. The aim of this article is to present a step-by-step protocol to achieve conservative preparations for ceramic veneers, called the mock-up driven technique. This technique takes into account the final contour desired for the veneer, and results in considerably less invasive dental preparations.