Are noprep, non-prep and prepless veneers the same as no-prep veneers?

Yes. Noprep, non-prep, no-prep and prepless all describe the same thing: veneers bonded over your natural teeth with little to no enamel removed.

Are no-prep veneers reversible?

Often, depending on the material and your bite. True no-prep veneers can frequently be removed with your natural teeth still underneath. Minimal-prep veneers are not fully reversible.

How much do no-prep veneers cost?

At George Carr DDS & Associates (Live to Smile) in Tempe, Arizona, composite bonding is $450 per tooth, composite/porcelain hybrids $650 to $900, porcelain e.max or LiSi $900 to $1,500, and feldspathic $1,200 to $1,700. Opening vertical dimension is $2,000 per tooth.

What is a dental mockup, wax-up, test drive or the moment?

They are mostly different names for previewing your new smile before it is permanent. A wax-up is the design built in wax on a model. A mockup or test drive transfers that design temporarily onto your actual teeth. The moment is another way of saying the try-in of that mockup, a snap-on version we can easily put in and take out.

SmileShape is a package at George Carr DDS & Associates in Tempe, Arizona that combines in-office bleaching, gum lift and enamel recontouring across the front 6 to 10 upper teeth, with no veneers bonded on. It runs $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the complexity of the case.

What are LiSi veneers?

LiSi is a pressed ceramic very similar to e.max, with the same strength and light behavior.

Do no-prep veneers cover the whole front of the tooth, like traditional veneers?

Sometimes yes, sometimes not quite, depending on the shape of your tooth. On some teeth a small area near the gumline between the teeth stays uncovered. Most people never notice it, and it is typically a small trade for keeping your own enamel. Traditional veneers typically cover the entire front of the tooth, but only because the tooth was significantly modified all the way around the front first.

Do I floss the same way with veneers?

Same or close to it. A veneer adds surface area to keep clean, so good habits matter a little more. A sonic toothbrush such as a Sonicare, regular flossing and a water flosser could help your teeth and your veneers last a very long time.

How long do no-prep veneers last?

Porcelain options commonly last a decade or longer with good care. Composite bonding has a shorter lifespan but is easier and less expensive to repair or replace.

Botox for Clenching: The "Chemical Night Guard"

georgecarrdds

Sep 2

3 min read

Some patients cannot wear anything.

Not a traditional guard. Not a thin retainer. Not the fancy one. They have tried, genuinely tried, and it does not work.

Others are dealing with something bigger than an appliance can handle — significant jaw pain, headaches, muscle soreness, broken teeth, repeated damage to dental work.

At that point it may be worth seeing a dentist with advanced training in TMJ disorders, or an orofacial pain/TMJ specialist.

And for certain patients, another option enters the conversation:

Botox.

The nickname

You will occasionally hear this jokingly called a "chemical night guard."

Catchy. Slightly misleading. Let's unpack it.

Botulinum toxin can be placed into muscles involved in heavy clenching — most commonly the masseter, sometimes the temporalis.

The goal is not to disable your jaw. You still need to chew dinner, and I would like you to keep doing that.

The goal is to reduce excessive muscle activity and, in some cases, reduce how much force those muscles can generate.

For some patients with significant bruxism, it is a legitimately useful tool.

Now the two things that don't always come up

1. This is off-label in the United States.

Botulinum toxin is not FDA-approved specifically for bruxism.

Off-label prescribing is legal and extremely common across all of medicine — this is not a scandal. But you should know that is what it is, and any clinic implying otherwise is being loose with the truth.

2. Repeated masseter injections have been associated with muscle atrophy.

Meaning the muscle can shrink over time.

For some patients seeking facial slimming, that is the entire goal — masseter Botox is marketed heavily for exactly that. If it is not your goal, it is a real consideration, and it can change how your face looks.

That deserves to be a decision, not a surprise.

Also worth knowing

Effects are temporary. This is not one-and-done; it requires repeat treatment to maintain.
It should be evaluated and performed by someone properly trained, with real knowledge of the anatomy involved. This is not a place to chase a deal.
It does not address why you are grinding. If the underlying driver is something like disordered breathing, quieting the muscle does not resolve that.

So is it worth it?

For some patients, yes. For others, no. Same answer as every other question in this series, which by now you may have noticed is the recurring theme:

Research points at populations. You are a person.

Botox is not a first move. It is a tool that makes sense after an actual evaluation, when appliances have not worked or are not tolerable, with someone trained to do it — and with clear eyes about the off-label status and the atrophy question.

Ask hard questions before you book. A clinician who welcomes them is the one you want.

Common Questions

Is Botox approved for teeth grinding?

No. Using botulinum toxin for bruxism is an off-label use in the United States. Off-label prescribing is legal and common, but it is worth knowing that is the status.

Does Botox for clenching change your face?

It can. Repeated masseter injections have been associated with muscle atrophy, meaning the muscle may shrink over time. Some patients pursue this deliberately for facial slimming; others should know it is a possible effect.

How long does it last?

Effects are temporary and require repeat treatment to maintain.

Does Botox replace a night guard?

Not necessarily. They do different things — one reduces muscle activity, the other puts physical material between your teeth. Which combination makes sense depends on your evaluation.

More in this series

Dealing with jaw pain or clenching in Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, or the Phoenix area? Come in and let's figure out what is actually driving it before deciding what to do about it. George Carr DDS & Associates PLLC — 2072 E Southern Ave, Suite A103, Tempe, AZ 85282 · LiveToSmile.com

George Carr, DDS · Licensed in Arizona

This article is for general educational purposes only and is written for adults 18 and over. It consists of generalizations, and although it may appear to fit your situation, your situation could be different. Botulinum toxin use for bruxism is off-label in the United States and should be evaluated and administered only by an appropriately trained clinician. Nothing here is a recommendation for or against any specific treatment for any individual, and it cannot examine you or rule out any condition. This is not a substitute for professional medical or dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you may have a dental emergency, call your dentist or dial 911.