Can’t porcelain veneers alone change the alignment?
Porcelain veneers are a treatment that bonds a thin layer of porcelain to the front surface, so they cannot change the position of the teeth or the bite. “Can’t you just make the visible part look nice? Do I really have to get orthodontics too?” This is a question I often hear from people who want a quick change.
To make teeth that stick out a lot or overlap look straight where they are, they have to be trimmed by as much as they stick out. The enamel on the front surface of the front teeth is only about 0.3–1mm thick depending on the area, so if a lot is trimmed, the dentin is exposed, the tooth becomes sensitive, and bonding also weakens. If it gets close to the nerve, you have to move to a crown, which trims even more; a crown is a treatment that trims all around the tooth and covers it, so the area trimmed is wider than for a veneer. Once a tooth is trimmed, it does not grow back.
When do you need both orthodontics and porcelain veneers?
| Current front teeth | Treatment to do first | Porcelain veneers |
|---|---|---|
| Only out of position | Orthodontics | Usually not needed |
| Position is fine, unhappy only with color or shape | Porcelain veneers | Proceed without orthodontics |
| Wide gaps, naturally large front teeth | Reduce the spaces with orthodontics | Only for the remaining shape |
| Protruding or overlapping teeth + color change | Orthodontics | Only color and shape after the teeth are moved |
Doing the two in sequence is for cases with overlapping or protruding teeth where you also want to change the color and shape. If the teeth are evenly positioned, I often do not recommend veneers, and small gaps can be closed by slightly widening the teeth. If the gaps are wide or the front teeth are naturally on the large side, the more the teeth are widened, the more square and blunt they look, so we move them first to reduce the spaces. Cleaning problems and uneven forces that come from position and bite are not solved by making the surface look nice. The options for gapped front teeth are summarized in Gaps between front teeth: how to choose between resin, porcelain veneers, and orthodontics.
When are porcelain veneers done after orthodontics?
They are not bonded right after the movement ends, but after the teeth have stopped moving and the gum line has stabilized. While you wear the retainer, we check the gum contour and bite before deciding on the final shape. With partial orthodontics that moves only a few front teeth, it can be done relatively soon; when the whole set of teeth has been moved, we tend to wait a bit longer. Gums do not grow back, so we do not use porcelain to push up a spot where the gum line has receded.
If I get porcelain veneers first, can I not have orthodontics?
You can still have orthodontics with existing veneers, but your options are reduced. Bonding brackets can affect the surface of the restoration, and after orthodontics the tooth positions may change so that the veneers have to be remade. Removable clear aligners tend to cause less damage to restorations. If you have not had them bonded yet, setting the positions first preserves the most natural tooth.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
Rather than how many to bond, I first look at whether the teeth stick out. We do not place them on protruding teeth or a skeletal protruding mouth. When only the color and edge shape remaining after orthodontics need attention, we first consider Brinate, which is placed without trimming. Basic at 0.3mm can be done the same day, Build-up and Platinum at 0.1mm take about 1 week and 2 weeks, and there is no anesthesia and no temporary tooth. We do not treat a misaligned bite with porcelain.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to do both orthodontics and porcelain veneers?
Partial orthodontics that moves only the front teeth usually takes a few months, and the whole set of teeth takes a year and a half or more; veneers then add from the same day to about 2 weeks. It depends on how much the teeth need to move.
Should I get whitening first after orthodontics?
Veneer color is matched to the neighboring teeth, so if you want whitening, it is better to do it before the veneers. After whitening, we wait about 1–2 weeks for the color to stabilize before choosing the shade.
How many porcelain veneers are done after orthodontics?
Only for teeth where color or shape issues remain after they have been moved. It is decided by the range visible when you smile and the proportions with neighboring teeth, so some people get just two front teeth and others get six.
What happens if a front tooth chips during orthodontics?
During orthodontics, the shape is often restored temporarily with resin, and the final restoration is decided after the movement ends. If the chipped area is large, we adjust the orthodontic plan.
