New veneers or full crowns after some gum recession?

Question

About 12 years ago I had to have my front tooth pulled due to “resorbtion”, at that time I had an implant put in and was advised to veneer the upper 5 teeth surrounding the implant to make it look perfect. Since then I’ve had some gum recession which now shows with the veneers and they are staining and look opaque and bulky. M new dentist wants to remove them and do new full crowns. She says crowns are better, stronger and look more natural. Any advice would be so appreciated.

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

If a dentist is not familiar with veneers, how to bond them, and the tops labs that make them, then they will believe that crowns are superior.  Crowns are certainly easier for a dentist to place....  Veneers require less removal of tooth structure, so they are more conservative, but require more skill to bond them in place.  If not properly bonded, they are not as strong and either break or can pop off of teeth, or worse yet they can decay.  I likely would agree that the veneers should be replaced, but I VERY likely would not replace them with crowns.

Kourosh Maddahi, DDS · Answer

Hi:I believe the veneers would still be the material of choice.  An experienced cosmetic dentist using a master technician should be able to make the smile very natural.Best,Dr. Maddahi

Arthur Glosman, DDS · Answer

Hello,
As far as replacing your old veneers with new ones or with crowns, this is something that needs to be evaluated with x rays and a clinical exam after the veneers have been removed. If the original prepared teeth have not been aggressively shaved down then you can replace the old veneers with new ones. If the tooth has been shaved down a lot then a crown would be a better option. Crowns are stronger than veneers. However, it's important to use the right restoration for the right situation. As far as esthetics that really has to do with the quality of the lab. There are crowns that look as good as veneers, that are not bulky and opaque. If your dentist and lab have good communication and you've seen the type of veneers and crowns they produce you should have all the info you need to make an educated decision.
Best of luck,
Dr. Glosman

Michael D. Kosdon, DDS · Answer

The correct answer depends on many factors and is not as simple as which one to choose. Saving healthy tooth structure is paramount, so all things being equal, then veneers are the choice. If your teeth are damaged or decayed, then crowns would be the best option. Other factors to consider are your bite, and if you are teeth grinder.

New veneers or full crowns after some gum recession?

Answers (4)

Answer: New Veneers or Full crowns

Answer: New Veneers or Full crowns

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New veneers or full crowns after some gum recession?

Answers (4)

Answer: New Veneers or Full crowns

Answer: New Veneers or Full crowns

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Porcelain Veneers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.