Are Porcelain Veneers Recommended for Really Crooked Teeth?

If your teeth are "severely" crooked, you may need to see an orthodontist to have them straightened before having porcelain veneers.  You may find that after having them straightened with braces that you no longer have the need for veneers.  Should you still want to have them it would be very easy to do after the braces are removed,  The "preps" would be very conservative and the result should be fantastic.  Good luck whatever you decide. 

If you have super crooked teeth as you've stated, then straighten your teeth out is the priority, then cosmetic fixes.  If you do Invisalign, then you may like that result already and veneers wouldn't be necessary.  I've had patients done Invisalign first and change the shape of their teeth by doing Lumineers.

It is possible to correct crooked teeth with porcelain veneers. However if the degree of crowding is severe enough, there may be a need to straighten the teeth first through orthodontic treatment before undergoing porcelain veneers. A large number of my patients undergo orthodontic treatment prior to placement of the porcelain or dental veneers. This doesn’t necessarily mean braces for 2 years - we can often achieve the desired amount of movement through a relatively short course of Invisalign treatment for example.
 When the teeth are better aligned to begin with, it allows placement of the porcelain veneers without aggressive tooth reduction. It also results in a better aesthetic outcome, as the dental veneers will all be a similar thickness, shape and size.

The short answer is that veneers CAN be put on really crooked teeth but a lot of times this INCREASES the amount of tooth reduction that is necessary.   When teeth are overlapping or flaring it's pretty much impossible to get a good result with veneers without doing some serious modification of your teeth.   If your teeth are really crooked I would recommend doing an accelerated Invisalign movement to at least get you closer to being straight.  Doing veneers on teeth that are 'generally' in the right position increases the esthetic outcome.  They look more natural, the gumline is more precise, they have uniform thickness (or thin-ness).  

If they are extremely crooked, it is best to have them aligned first either with braces or Invisalign. That way if veneers are placed after you will have much better aesthetic results, and you will be able to have more conservative preparations of your teeth, which will be better for you. If they are only slightly crooked then it's possible to proceed with the veneers without orthodontics, but it sounds like in your case orthodontics prior to veneer placement is advised.

Ok so one of the things that uh we
see in our society today and in doing 26 years of cosmetic dentistry is that everyone
wants a instant result.I’ve had
patients come in with extremely crooked teeth that want veneers or crowns to
straighten them and the reality is that I really, really recommend that they
see the orthodontist to get the teeth straightened. There’s too much of a sacrifice made when
you’re trying to pretend that teeth are straightened that way and they need to
be structurally sound and functionally well positioned so that they will last
you a lifetime. So my recommendation for
very crooked teeth is to see an orthodontist and get them moved.

There are many things to consider when considering which of the two can or should be done to correct really crooked teeth, braces or porcelain veneers?Your first question, is it possible to just do veneers?  The answer for most adults is yes.  But you also asked what is best, and most dentists and orthodontists would argue that orthodontics would be the best alternative.  But, be aware that orthodontics is not without its downside.  Many times for adults treatment can vary between 9 to 30 months.  And, almost always a long term use of retainers will be necessary to prevent relapse, or the teeth going back to their original crooked position.  Many orthodontists will tell the adult patients that they will need to wear a night time retainer for the rest of their life if they want to keep them straight.  And, there was one study that said that 100% of all adult orthodontic patients eventually get relapse to some degree.In my cosmetic dental practice I have treated many adult patients who not only had crooked teeth, but also didn't like the color, size or shape of their teeth.  Also they didn't want months to years of treatment.  Porcelain veneering enabled us to treat these patients in several weeks, and because we didn't actually move their teeth, they didn't need to wear retainers.  I don't think there is only one best way to treat my patients, either braces or veneers, as I do refer many patients to orthodontists.  However, I feel many times porcelain veneers is the best option for my patients and I like to inform them of all the pros and cons, and let them make informed decisions on how they would like to be treated.  After all, it is their mouth and smile!If you would like to see a number of examples of how cosmetic dentistry corrected patients with crooked teeth without braces, go to the link below, and go through and read about the patients and their treatment.  I think you'll be enlightened about the benefits of cosmetic dentistry!

It is possible to correct really crooked teeth with veneers but it is not the best treatment option.

The best option is to straighten the teeth first with Invisalign or braces. This is also the least invasive option. It does take longer than veneers but the results will be more stable over time with less maintenance.

Doing veneers on crooked teeth usually requires removing a lot of healthy tooth and causing irreversible damage. Furthermore, the veneers won't last forever and will likely have to be replaced or repaired in 10-15 year on average.

Go have an orthodontic consult for really crooked teeth.  Doing procelain veneers may fix the problem in the short run but remember you can get cavities under them, staining at the margins and they can break - they don't last forever.  Veneers can be wonderful but braces are always the first choice.

Veneers can make crooked teeth look straight in most cases.  The down side is you will lose some tooth structure to prepare the teeth for veneers when teeth are out of alignment.  In severe cases, the amount of preparation could encroach upon the nerve and require root canal therapy.  The benefit is you have your new smile in a few weeks vs. the much longer time orthodontics requires.  If your teeth are unsightly or have lots of fillings, tetracyclilne stains, etc. even after orthodontics you may not be happy with your smile without veneers.  If you have beautiful teeth that are just misaligned by all means, do the orthodontics.  Just be prepared to be committed to wearing your retainers as relapse can occur.