Which Material Is Best for My Smile Makeover?
I want to get a smile makeover. I’ve been to a couple of dentists for a consultation to compare them and they’ve both given me vastly different suggestions. One is suggesting porcelain veneers made from zirconia. The other said that feldspathic crowns would give me a much more attractive result. Do you have a preference between these two options?
Ellie
Dear Ellie,
First, I’m going to say right off the bat that I don’t like either of those options. The zirconia will not be a good option because they are formed from a block of porcelain. This means they are going to be one flat color. That will not look natural. If you look at the teeth in the image above, you will notice that they are not the same color or even the same opacity from top to bottom. There are natural variations in the tooth that you can’t get with zirconia. They are fine for back teeth, but I wouldn’t recommend them for teeth that are visible when. you smile.
Second, your other dentist is suggesting porcelain crowns. The porcelain part is great. The crowns part is a huge red flag. Smile makeovers should be done with porcelain veneers, unless the teeth are already crowned and it isn’t possible to do veneers. Dentists who have not been trained in advanced smile makeovers tend to be the ones to recommend crowns because that is what they know how to do. The results will be disappointing. Plus, it is a massive overtreatment that grinds away a significant amount of healthy tooth structure.
I’d like you to shift your question a bit. Instead of asking what type of material you should use, ask what type of dentist. If you were commissioning an artist to do a painting, you would not pick the artist based on what brand of brush or paint they use, but by their skill and artistry. That’s how you need to pick the dentist who will give you the smile of your dreams.
The best cosmetic dentists in the country are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Bear in mind there is a difference in being an AACD member and an AACD accredited member. Dentists who have reached accreditation are proven skilled and artistic cosmetic dentists. That’s what I’d look for. Then, let them pick the materials. Just like you would let the skilled artist pick the brush.
This blog is brought to you by a caring cosmetic dentist in Cincinnati, Dr. Fred Peck.