Do I need dental crowns just to whiten my teeth? I’ve had 3 crowns and 4 veneers since 2001. They are yellowing from age. I also have some concerns with dry mouth, and my dentist says the combination of veneers and crowns is throwing off my bite. I want to resolve the dry mouth and have whiter teeth. I switched to a holistic dentist last year, and she surprised me by recommending crowns for all the teeth that show when I smile. I have a broad smile, so this is scary. I thought holistic dentists were more conservative than that. Crowns on the teeth in what the dentist says is my smile zone would include four teeth with no crowns now. I think this treatment is unnecessary, but how do I prove it? – Thank you. Yves from Maine
Yves,
Your dentist’s recommendation to replace veneers with crowns and crown all your teeth to make them white is super-aggressive. Please do not agree to overtreatment. Remember that a dentist’s training and experience in tooth restoration and cosmetic dentistry influence their treatment options and ability to produce healthy, beautiful results. Their claim to practice holistic dentistry does not mean that they understand cosmetic dentistry.
Do You Need Dental Crowns to Whiten Your Teeth?
Dental crowns restore damaged or worn teeth beautifully but are not used to whiten healthy teeth.
Dental crowns are not the recommended solution to whiten your teeth. Grinding down your teeth for crowns destroys healthy tooth structure. A skilled cosmetic dentist can whiten your natural teeth and provide new crowns and veneers to match—without unnecessarily placing crowns on healthy teeth.
Replacing Porcelain Veneers with Crowns
An ethical dentist aims to preserve your healthy tooth structure—not replace your crowns with veneers. Your dentist may be uncomfortable replacing your dental crowns and porcelain veneers and ensuring they match. If you already have a dry mouth, a full-mouth reconstruction from an unskilled dentist can open your bite too far and worsen it. Still, you do not need crowns on teeth just to whiten them.
We recommend looking for an advanced cosmetic dentist to examine and x-ray your teeth. You may choose to find a holistic dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training to identify the cause of your dry mouth. Afterward, the dentist will explain your options for whitening your teeth and replacing your discolored crowns and veneers to match your brightened teeth.
Sugar Land, Texas dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post.