I hate the way my smile looks, and really want a smile makeover. A friend who had one, that turned out gorgeous, said they used porcelain veneers. I have two teeth that have been replaced with dental implants. Am I able to get porcelain veneers with that? Will they put the veneers over the crowns or will those teeth have to stay the same?
Andrea
Dear Andrea,
You can always get a smile makeover! Porcelain veneers, when done well, are the best way to get that gorgeous Hollywood smile. You don’t want the dentist to put the porcelain veneers over the crowns, though. The Lumineers company used to advertise something like this telling people it was a way to save their old, ugly crowns, but it was a bad idea for three reasons.
First, it takes just as much work to place veneers over crowns as it does to just remake the crowns. Second, veneers do not bond to porcelain nearly as well as they do to natural teeth. Third, you double your risk of failure because now both the underlying crown can fail as well as the insecure bond between veneer and crown.
What you want to do instead, is have porcelain veneers placed on all of the teeth you want veneered EXCEPT for the ones with dental implants. Then, have the implant crowns replaced to match the porcelain veneers.
Who Should Do My Smile Makeover?
You need to be very careful who you have do this for you. Smile makeovers are an advanced procedure which is not adequately taught in dental school. Your case is even more complicated because you are having to match crowns and veneers together.
What you need is an expert cosmetic dentist. A challenge you will face with this is that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, dental school isn’t enough to get really skilled in cosmetic procedures. In order to develop the artistry and expertise necessary, a dentist would have to invest significant time and money in post-doctoral training. Few do this.
So, how can you find the ones who have? One of the easiest ways to do this is to go to the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD.com). They have an accreditation program. In order for a dentist to get AACD accredited, they have to pass stringent exams that shows their technical expertise. Additionally, they have to demonstrate their artistry before a board of examiners on a large number of cosmetic cases. Very few dentists get through this. In fact, I would say those that do are in the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists in the world.
If I were in your place I would look for an AACD accredited dentist. On the AACD website is a find a dentist link. Just make sure that you check the box that shows you’re looking for someone who is accredited.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.