Dr. Hall,
I recently had a smile makeover done. I had thought I got porcelain veneers, but it looks like the porcelain goes all the way around my teeth. I assume this is because my teeth as they were previous were not good candidates for veneers? Is it normal to have the entire tooth covered when done only for cosmetic reasons? I’ve gone to other dentists since having them done and they are all impressed, and say that it is normal. What do you think?
– Andrew in Utah
Andrew,
The difference between porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns is only a matter of degree, and there is no hard-and-fast distinction pinning down exactly when a porcelain veneer becomes a crown. And most cosmetic dentists have fees that are either exactly the same or very nearly the same for either procedure, because they take about the same amount of work.
And yes, it is common to have porcelain crowns done across the front teeth for cosmetic reasons. There are several reasons a dentist may include the whole tooth in a smile makeover–if the tooth is weakened for any reason, if there are existing fillings in the teeth, or if it is needed to control the bite.
I would expect the dentist to discuss this with you and if he or she recommends crowns, to explain why. Most cosmetic dentists try to be as conservative as possible, meaning that they try to preserve natural tooth structure as much as possible. Crowns are a more aggressive treatment than porcelain veneers: Veneers require a very light shaving of the front of the tooth; crowns require a substantial reduction of the tooth all the way around. So I would expect to be given a good reason for getting crowns rather than veneers.
– Dr. Hall
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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