The treatment of teeth using veneer restorations combines aesthetic and functional improvements with a low destructive technique. Different kinds of tooth preparation techniques are described in the literature for this kind of restoration. This in vitro study aimed to examine the influence of the incisal preparation on the loadability of teeth restored with porcelain laminate veneers. Thirty-six selected mandibular incisors were randomly assigned to three groups with 12 teeth per group. In the first group, only the facial surface was prepared. In the second group, the preparation included a rounded incisal edge and a distinct chamfer lingually. The third group served as an unprepared control. Empress(R) veneers were then fabricated and cemented with a low viscous luting composite material. After 120 days storage in Ringer's solution, the specimens were loaded incisally to the point of failure. Statistical analysis of the results showed significant differences between the series (P=0.0103). Group 2 (with preparation of the incisal edge) exhibited the lowest fracture resistance (466+/-99 N) (N, mean forces). When prepared only facially, the teeth restored with Empress veneers reached the strength of unprepared teeth. Compared with the biting force described for incisors in the literature, the in vitro loadability reached in this investigation seems to jusitify the clinical use of both preparation designs tested.