My new dentist replaced four old crowns on my front teeth in June, but they were too thick and too big. She redid the crowns, but they were still oversized and uncomfortable. The crowns make my lips protrude. Although my dentist says she is willing to try again, I’m done and want to switch dentists. Can I get the oversized crowns replaced with veneers? Thank you. Darlene from Mobile, AL
Darlene,
Thank you for your question. We understand your frustration. Dr. Szarek would need to examine your crowns to determine when they are so bulky, but we will answer your question about switching from dental crowns to veneers.
Can You Replace Oversized Dental Crowns with Veneers?
Porcelain veneers bond to fronts of teeth, but dental crowns cover the entire tooth
You are unable to replace dental crowns with porcelain veneers. Preparing a tooth for a crown requires shaving it down every side of the tooth—making it too small to support a porcelain veneer. In contrast, tooth preparation for porcelain veneers is different. Sometimes, veneers do not require any preparation at all. When a skilled dentist must prepare your teeth for veneers, they will only remove a fraction of a millimeter from the front of each affected tooth.
Your teeth are already prepared for dental crowns, and insufficient tooth structure is left to support porcelain veneers. Also, veneers would leave the backs of your shaved-down teeth exposed and susceptible to decay. You can only replace dental crowns with new crowns.
Get a Second Opinion
Although a cosmetic dentist can only replace your existing crowns with new ones, you do not need to repeat an unpleasant experience with another dentist. Please look for dentists with post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry and years of experience practicing the art.
Tips on selecting a dentist:
- Read the dentist’s patients’ reviews. If you cannot find any reviews, be cautious.
- Schedule a consultation with one or two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss how to resolve your concerns.
- Ask to see before-and-after patient photos of the dentist’s experience with crowns.
An experienced cosmetic dentist can replace your crowns and make them look natural.
Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.