No-Prep Veneers in Korea: Changing Your Smile, Keeping Your Teeth
The classic way to fit a veneer is to shave down the front of the tooth first. We start from the opposite question: how little can we touch? At Blanche, most veneers go on with no drilling at all, and when a tiny adjustment helps, it stays under 0.1 mm.
Why we'd rather not drill
Enamel is the hardest, most protective layer of a tooth, and once it's shaved away it doesn't come back. Removing a lot of it to make room for a thick veneer brings the softer layer underneath closer to the surface, which can leave a tooth more sensitive. It also means there's less natural tooth to work with if the veneer ever needs replacing.
Our chief dentist puts it plainly: is it worth damaging a tooth to make it look prettier? Blanche was built around answering "no" to that question, and our aim is the least intervention for the most beautiful result.
No-prep or minimal-prep?
With no-prep veneers, the porcelain is made thin enough to bond straight onto the enamel. With minimal-prep veneers, a sliver of less than 0.1 mm is reshaped, only where it lets the veneer follow a more natural outline. Which one suits you depends on tooth position, bite and the look you want, and a dentist decides that with you at the consultation.
| No-prep | Minimal-prep | Classic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth shaved off | Nothing | Less than 0.1 mm | Usually more |
| Sensitivity afterwards | Uncommon | Uncommon | More common |
| At Blanche | Yes | Yes | Not offered |
Reactions vary between individuals. Some people notice mild sensitivity or tender gums for a few days.
A no-prep case from our Gangnam clinic
Lower front teeth, before and after veneers. Photographed at Blanche.
Before
AfterEvery mouth is different, so results and side effects differ too. Whether no-prep veneers suit your teeth is decided with a dentist at the consultation.
Years of focus on one approach
- 2020
Our team opens Seoul Haru Dental Clinic and starts building clinical data on no-prep laminates.
- 2023
Blanche Dental Clinic opens with its own lab, Blanche Lab, and launches "No-prep Laminate Blanche" as its signature treatment.
- 2025
The clinic moves to the B722 Building in Nonhyeon with upgraded digital equipment and a stronger service for international patients.
- Today
30,000 veneer cases, built on 11 years of clinical research that began before Blanche opened.
No-prep veneer questions
Will my teeth be drilled?
Usually not. Blanche only offers no-prep and minimal-prep veneers. If shaving under 0.1 mm off a tooth would make the result look more natural, the dentist tells you why first, and nothing is done without your agreement.
What is the difference between no-prep and minimal-prep veneers?
No-prep veneers go straight onto the tooth with nothing removed. Minimal-prep veneers involve reshaping of less than 0.1 mm, used only where it makes the outline look more natural.
Can anyone get no-prep veneers?
It depends on your tooth position, bite and the result you want. A dentist decides with you, at the consultation, whether no-prep or minimal-prep suits your teeth.
Will my teeth be sensitive afterwards?
Because little or no enamel is removed, sensitivity is uncommon. Some people notice mild sensitivity or tender gums for a few days, and reactions vary between individuals.