No-Prep Veneers for Acid Reflux Patients | The Sandwich Technique for Minimal Tooth Damage

When teeth are eroded by acid from reflux, what's needed is a precise, tooth-preserving approach rather than simple cosmetic treatment.

Dr. Park Jonguk of Dream Dental Clinic combines no-prep veneers with the Sandwich Technique to preserve damaged teeth

while restoring a natural, beautiful esthetic — here is one such case.

With acid reflux, stomach acid can back up and, in severe cases, slowly erode the surface of the teeth.

In particular, when symptoms persist over a long period, the enamel is damaged and wear becomes severe,

eventually causing the shape of the teeth to break down and creating esthetic problems as well.

This patient's teeth had been eroded by long-term acid reflux,

and after having her bite corrected with orthodontics, she came to our clinic, Dream Dental Clinic.

Other clinics had recommended root canal treatment followed by all-ceramic crowns,

but we chose to preserve as much of her natural teeth as possible

and proceeded with no-prep veneer treatment using the Sandwich Technique.

Photo 1 — Teeth eroded by acid reflux, after orthodontic treatment

The tooth surfaces had been worn thin by acid, with almost no enamel left, and many areas were knife-sharp.

Photo 2 — Condition of the palatal (inner) surface

The enamel had almost entirely disappeared, and the teeth had also shrunk in size — a case where no-prep treatment alone was realistically difficult.

Photos 3-6 — Precision wax-up diagnosis

There were no issues with the bite, so we decided to apply the Sandwich Technique.

Since the teeth had already been made smaller by erosion, we minimized any additional reduction.

Photo 7 — Fabricating the temporary teeth

We made temporary teeth in advance to check the length, proportion, and speech function.

Photo 8 — Only the sharp areas were minutely refined

We made only the minimal adjustments to areas that would have interfered with the veneers staying in place.

Photos 9-10 — Bonding the palatal veneers

We first bonded a thin ceramic veneer to the inner surface of the tooth to secure strength and stability.

Photos 11-16 — Fabricating and bonding the facial veneers

Finally, the veneer is bonded to the front (facial) surface to complete the treatment.

We preserved as much of the tooth as possible while still achieving a natural, translucent result.

Conclusion

For patients with acid reflux, the damage to their teeth is often more severe than expected.

Rather than excessively reducing the teeth or covering them with crowns,

no-prep veneers based on the Sandwich Technique, which protect both the front and back surfaces, make a good alternative.

Dream Dental Clinic continues to research veneer treatments that preserve

as much of the tooth as possible while restoring natural esthetics and function.

❓ Q&A

Q1. Is it impossible to get veneers if I have acid reflux?

A. Not at all. Depending on the degree of damage, no-prep veneers or the Sandwich Technique are entirely possible.

Q2. What is the Sandwich Technique?

A. It's a treatment method that bonds a veneer to both the front and back of the tooth to increase strength and preserve tooth structure.

Q3. How should I care for it after treatment?

A. It's important to avoid acidic foods and to have regular dental checkups to monitor the condition of the veneers.