Which Veneers or Crowns Should I Get?

I’ve  had porcelain veneers placed several years ago.  I’ve never been thrilled with them so I’m hoping to replace them. This time I wanted to be more careful so I’ve seen several dentists to ask what would be the best brand to get for a beautiful smile makeover. One suggested Lumineers. One suggested e.max crowns. The third one suggested zirconia. I don’t know how to decide which of these is the best. Do you have any advice?

Ellie

Dear Ellie,

You have been 0 for 4 in dentists here. I am so sorry. Your original dentist should have provided you with a beautiful smile. One that you were absolutely thrilled with.  Now, the dentists you consulted have given you horrible suggestions. Whatever you do, don’t let a dentist give you crowns for your smile makeover unless your teeth already have dental crowns on them. First, it means grinding down healthy tooth structure. Second, dentists who suggest them usually do not have cosmetic dentistry training. They suggest crowns because they know how to do those. But knowing how to do a crown and getting beautiful results are two completely different things.

As for the other recommendations, Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers which are heavily marketed to inexperienced dentists. Most expert cosmetic dentist don’t like that particular brand because the company requires dentists to use their lab, which isn’t known for its artistic results.  Zirconia is strong, but it is milled from a single block, which makes it a challenge to get the natural variations in the veneers that will make them look beautiful instead of fake.

What I would like to suggest is that instead of asking what is the right material, look for the right kind of dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can say they are a cosmetic dentist regardless of the type of training they’ve invested in. And it does require additional post-doctoral training. Smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school. If a dentist wants to do great cosmetic work, they have to spend time and money in additional training.

I’m going to suggest that you look for a dentist who has done that. The easiest way to find them is to get a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They have passed a series of exams that prove their technical skill. They also had to demonstrate their artistry with a large amount of cases they did and are looked at by an examination board. AACD accredited dentists are the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the world.

You find an AACD accredited dentist and trust their expertise to know the right brand to give you the stunning results you deserve.

This blog is brought to you a compassionate cosmetic dentist in Nashville, Dr. David Wickness.