Dr. Paul A. Tipton discusses different techniques for preparing teeth for porcelain veneers. For a conventional veneer on the upper right first tooth, preparation involves 0.5mm labial reduction and removing 2mm from the incisal edge. A putty matrix is used as a guide. For a butt joint veneer on the upper right second tooth, the labial surface is reduced by 0.3-0.5mm and 1.5-2mm removed from the incisal edge, which is prepared at a 30 degree angle. Slice preparations are used to address imbrication, rotation, diastemas or missing papillae, reducing the labial surface by 0.3-0

1. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the art and science of aesthetic dentistry
prepare ur1 for conventional veneer

2. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
use a putty matrix of the teeth or wax up , as a guide to tooth preparation.

3. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
cut the matrix vertically through the centre of UR1

4. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
if the tooth is not to be moved labially or palatally the conventional labial preparation
involves 0.5mm reduction of the labial surface and 2mm off the incisal edge

5. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
prepare depth cuts using burs of between 0.3 – 0.5mm thick to establish
labial reduction and 1 - 2mm for incisal edge reduction.

6. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the labial surface is prepared in 3 planes – gingival, labial and incisal thirds to produce a
convex surface
the finish line labially should be a 0.3mm supra-gingival chamfer to stay in enamel using
a chamfer bur of 0.6mm thick cutting tip.

7. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
cut the matrix through the middle of the tooth that is being prepared and
vertically reseat to evaluate tooth reduction.

8. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the finish line mesially and distally should finish halfway into the contact area
with the adjacent teeth.

9. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
place depth cut on the palatal incisal edge and prepare palatal chamfer 1mm
over the incisal edge and 0.5mm depth.

10. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
evaluate labial, incisal and palatal reduction.

11. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
prepare the palatal chamfer through mesially and distally so they are at the
same level as the palatal mini-chamfer

12. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
completed palatal chamfer.

13. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
break through the contact areas with finishing strips and polish these surfaces so there
are no rough or loose enamel prisms
round the corners of the preparation to prevent any stress

14. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
reseat the matrix to verify overall reduction.

15. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the finished preparation should be very rounded to eliminate potential
porcelain fractures.

16. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the art and science of aesthetic dentistry
porcelain veneers
preparation techniques
conventional
no guidance preparation
labial enamel

17. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
prepare ur2 for butt joint veneer prep

18. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the putty matrix is again used.

19. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the labial surface is reduced by 0.3 – 0.5mm as previously.

20. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the incisal edge is reduced by 1.5 – 2.0mm.

21. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the incisal edge is prepared for an angled butt joint.
the incisal edge will have a 30° sloping shoulder

22. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
mesially and distally the preparation is halfway into the contact area with the
adjacent teeth.

23. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
all contact areas are smoothed.

24. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
finished prep

25. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the art and science of aesthetic dentistry
porcelain veneers
preparation techniques
conventional
slice

26. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the art and science of aesthetic dentistry
slice preparations are used for imbrication, rotation,
diastemas or missing interdental papillae.

27. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
reduce the labial surface by 0.3 – 0.5mm with the use of depth cuts
and the incisal edge by 2mm.

28. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
The style of palatal
incisal reduction
depends upon the
degree of anterior
guidance and how much
labial enamel is present

29. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
break through the contact areas with a fine diamond bur and produce a line of draw
of the mesial and distal surfaces

30. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
prepare the mesial and distal margins for a 0.5mm chamfer finish line with an overall
angle of convergence of 20 – 30° ( axial inclination of 10 - 15° ) using a 1mm thick
chamfer bur

31. Dr. Paul A. Tipton round the corners so there is no stress in the porcelain restoration.

32. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the palatal incisal finish line is an inclined butt joint or palatal mini chamfer
dependant upon anterior guidance and the amount of labial enamel

33. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
finish the slice though the contact so that the mesio-palatal and disto-
palatal vertical walls have 20 – 30° angle of convergence

34. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

35. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
round the corners where the slice and incisal preps join

36. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
check overall reduction with the matrix.

37. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
the finished preparation from the labial looks like a dentine bonded
crown preparation

38. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

39. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

40. Dr. Paul A. Tipton
slice preps only where required

41. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

42. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

43. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

44. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

45. Dr. Paul A. Tipton

46. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton st
very thin labial enamel – so no labial reduction is required ,
the veneers are additive

47. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton
the dentine is hybridised

48. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

49. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton
the ¾ crown preparation wraps around the palatal aspect further than
the slice

50. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

51. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

52. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

53. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

54. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

55. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton

56. Dr. Paul A. TiptonDr. Paul A. Tipton