Can You Put Veneers Over Crowns?

For many people, dental crowns are a fact of life. Whether from a natural tendency towards tooth decay or some mistakes made as a child eating too many sugary things, we may have crowns before even knowing how to care for our teeth properly. If you later wish to have veneers placed, you'll need to know if you can put veneers over crowns. Here's everything you should know about this topic.

Can Veneers Be Placed On Crowns?

In most cases, no. The problem has to do with how the teeth are ground and modified to support the treatment.

For crowns, the initial tooth is ground down to support the crown's base, which goes over it similar to how a thimble goes on top of a finger. Cement on the underside holds the crown in place.

The main issue with putting veneers on top of crowns has to do with the exterior surface of the crown itself. To fit the veneer, a dentist would often need to grind down the crown itself, potentially breaking it. Also, the adhesives used don't work on porcelain the same way they do on enamel, causing a distinct weak spot.

We say that this doesn't work in most cases because there are a few where it does. When asking, "can you put veneers over crowns?", your dentist may recommend products like GlamSmile veneers, which can be placed over crowns thanks to their unusual design.

We are not specifically recommending that brand, or any other brand, to you. Only a professional can tell you whether a particular product is the right choice for your situation. The critical point here is that there are a few cases when you can put veneers on top of crowns.

Alternative Treatments

The main reason people ask questions like, "can you put veneers over crowns?" is to hide problems on crowns without having to replace the entire thing. This is typically cosmetic rather than practical. If the crown is so damaged that it's in danger of falling apart, replacement is usually the only reasonable option.

Here are some of the alternatives to placing a veneer over the crown.

Alternative #1: Resin Repairs

For smaller amounts of damage, your dentist might be able to repair the crown with resin. Dental resin is a composite material made from a plastic and ceramic mix that blends into the tooth itself. Resin is particularly popular as a filling material because it mimics the natural appearance of teeth.

Alternative #2: Replacement Crown

This is often the most straightforward solution. If a crown is too old to be usable, completely replacing it gives you renewed support. Most replacement crowns can be set in place with a single trip to the dentist.

Alternative #3: Dental Implants

If the tooth under your crown is damaged or decayed, you may need to replace it with an implant. Pulling a tooth also helps open up other options, such as adding dental bridges. This isn't the best choice if a tooth is still healthy, but it can be a great long-term fix.