If I have dental crowns can I still get a smile makeover? I wanted to get porcelain veneers but my husband doesn’t think crowns can be veneered. I’m not sure I want more crowns because they look so fake. Plus, they have a gray line at the gumline. I hate that so I rarely smile.
Caitlin
Dear Caitlin,
A Gorgeous Smile Makeover Done by Dr. Susan Dennis
While your husband is correct that you cannot place porcelain veneers on top of dental crowns, that does not preclude you from getting a smile makeover. In fact, you can get a gorgeous smile, even with dental crowns.
The key is finding the right cosmetic dentist who is a good listener to ensure you get the smile you actually want. One thing Dr. Dennis uses is a digital makeover so you can get an idea of what your smile will look like on you when it’s completed. That way you can know ahead of time if your both on the same page.
Smile Makeovers When You Have Dental Crowns
What you’ll end up with is a mixture of porcelain veneers and crowns. Unless there’s some particular need to do anything drastic to the bottom arch of teeth, all that’s usually necessary is to whiten the bottom arch with teeth whitening unless there are some obvious things you’d like to change. It’s completely up to you.
If your crowned teeth are visible, you’ll want to make sure they give you all-porcelain crowns. The crowns you have now aren’t all-porcelain. That’s why they don’t look natural and why there’s a gray line. You’ve currently got metal-based crowns which should never be placed on front teeth. Though, any halfway decent cosmetic dentist would know that. Then the other teeth, which aren’t crowned, can receive the porcelain veneers.
Choosing Who Should Do Your Smile Makeover
The first thing I’d look at is their smile gallery. You don’t want to end up with a dentist who doesn’t get the kind of results you’re looking for in your own smile makeover. When you see a gallery who’s dentist created smiles you adore, call the office to make sure their actual cases the dentist has done and not stock photos.
Next, I’d check their reviews to make sure people have been happy with the service they received. Maybe you’re willing to put up with someohe who’s a jerk to their paitents, but gets good results. I don’t think I would be. I’d want someone who has a good chairside manner along with artistic skills.
Finally, make sure they’re willing to stand behind their work. They should have some form of beautiful smile guarantee.
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