Was too much tooth structure removed? (Photo)

Hello there,Your teeth have been prepped for crowns, not veneers.  Veneers typically cover only the front of your teeth (like veneer brick on a house that is vinyl siding on the back and sides).  Crowns cover your entire tooth (like a house with brick on all 4 sides).  This is not necessarily a bad thing because brick on all 4 sides can better protect the house from minor damage, just like a crown.  However, if you are unhappy with your final result, the next dentist will have to be careful in removing the crowns, so that s/he does not fracture the prep.  Most experienced cosmetic dentists in the United States are usually able to remove crowns without damaging the preps.Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMDSt. Louis, MO area (O'Fallon, IL)Real Self 100

Based on the pictures uploaded it seems as if your natural teeth were prepared for crowns and not veneers. Veneers usually just cover the front of your tooth versus crowns that cover front, both sided and back. However, this would be better analyzed with clinically with an oral evaluation and with x-rays.

It is difficult to tell from the pictures you posted but it looks like the upper teeth were either prepped for crowns or three quarter crowns.  Veneers require minimal reduction to change the shape, color and size of teeth.  They are a thin layer of porcelain and can be as thin as a contact.  Crowns or caps cover the entire tooth with a lot more reduction needed.   

Wow! your top teeth have not been prepped for veneers.  They have been prepped for crowns.  Veneers don't need much removal of tooth structure, they are generally pretty conservative if done correctly.  They cover the just the front surface of the tooth, and wrap slightly around the back.  If you are not satisfied with your results, show these photos to your next dentist, so he/she can be careful when removing the crowns.  Make sure you do your research and choose a dentist that is very experienced with cosmetic dentistry.Additionally, from your before photo, I can see that you are a heavy grinder.  Make sure you get a night guard to protect your teeth and restorations!

We are limited on how conservative the preparations can be on several factors.  The more natural materials we can use are translucent, so to block out the color underneath will require thicker restorations (more enamel removal).  If teeth are crowded/crooked/overlapped, then we must do the same (more enamel removal).  If we are trying to correct a midline shift.... You see where I am going.Crowns and veneers are not significantly different, depending on materials used.  A veneer is merely the front 1/2 of a crown for most cases.The good news is, if the procedure is done well by an experienced cosmetic dentist, then there should be no concerns and it should last a long time.