Old PFMsClick here to enlarge imageFrom the moment we enter dental school, we are taught to pick up a handpiece and prep teeth. We do this to remove decay, prepare a tooth for a restoration (direct or indirect), adjust occlusion, and many other dental procedures. Dentists have accepted that the invasive removal of often healthy tooth structure is just part of the process.
As pressed porcelains were developed over the years, the requirement to reduce more tooth structure only increased. Pressed porcelain veneers are waxed up, invested, burned out of the investment, and then porcelain - instead of metal - is pressed into the investment. The veneer is then recovered, finished, and characterized. Due to the physical characteristics, other porcelains on the market are not as substantially strong. This could pose an increased risk of fracture during the process of fabrication or occlusal contact after placement.
A new conservative option
Cerinate porcelain is a micro-pressed feldspathic porcelain, which was specifically developed for a minimal- or no-preparation technique for veneers. Because of its exceptional strength even while pressed thin, Cerinate porcelain veneers can be made ultra thin while remaining resilient. Owing to their minimal thickness, just about all veneer cases can be accomplished with no or minimal tooth reduction. When tooth reduction is required, it is largely limited to cosmetic contouring without the necessity for local anesthesia. Many dentists who have been aware of the intense strength of minimal- or no-preparation veneer techniques have been placing these ultra-thin veneers for years with little or no failure and no adverse gingival effects.