Veneer and Crown Retreatment: Turning Awkward-Looking Teeth Natural

Hello, I'm Dr. Park Jonguk of Dream Dental Clinic, Apgujeong.

Today I'm introducing a veneer and all-ceramic crown retreatment case.

"My crown looks too unnatural."

"My veneer is opaque and it shows."

"It's been a long time since I was treated — can it be redone?"

It can be changed to look natural through retreatment.

Why retreatment was needed

Photo 1 shows the patient's condition at the first visit.

She had an all-ceramic crown, and several problems were visible.

It's opaque. A natural tooth has translucency, but light doesn't pass through this crown.

It looks stiff and artificial.

It has a dull feel. The shape isn't natural. The lines aren't smooth — they're crude.

The shape is also odd. It doesn't harmonize with the natural teeth. The crown stands out on its own.

She came in for retreatment because it had been a long time since the original treatment.

The retreatment process

Veneers and crowns are removed differently.

For veneers, we remove them with a laser.

The laser breaks down the adhesive, and the veneer is lifted off.

This minimizes damage to the tooth.

Crowns are removed with a conventional method.

The crown is sectioned or pried off to remove it.

In this case, since the crown was old, removal was straightforward.

The existing tooth reduction

Photo 2 shows the state of tooth reduction on tooth #21 for the crown, taken during seating.

Unfortunately, there had been a lot of reduction.

In the past, when the crown was made, a lot of tooth structure had been cut away.

By today's standards, this was excessive reduction. But a tooth that's already been cut can't be undone.

We have to create the best possible result from the current state.

The goal is to make the new crown natural and beautiful.

The result after treatment

Photos 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the appearance after treatment.

It's truly natural, translucent, and beautiful.

The translucency is alive. The opacity of the previous crown has completely disappeared.

There's natural-tooth-like translucency at the incisal edge. Light passes through, giving a sense of depth.

The shape is natural. What was a dull, odd shape has become smooth and beautiful.

Line angles, developmental lobes, and other details of a natural tooth are expressed.

It blends perfectly with the surrounding teeth. The crown no longer stands out on its own.

You can't tell which tooth is the crown. It simply looks like a natural tooth.

The key to retreatment

Even remaking it with the same material, the result can be completely different.

The difference lies in the fabrication method.

The previous crown was made opaque, from a single ceramic.

The new crown was made with translucency, using the multi-layer build-up method.

Several types of ceramic are layered one on top of another.

Different translucency and color are applied to different areas. The complex structure of a natural tooth is reproduced.

That's why the result is different.

If you're considering retreatment

Does your old crown or veneer feel unnatural?

Does it look opaque and artificial?

Does it not match your surrounding teeth?

It can be changed to look natural through retreatment.

Even a tooth that's already been reduced a lot can achieve a beautiful result with a new crown.

The key is the fabrication method.

Made with translucency using the build-up method, it becomes as beautiful as a natural tooth.

Retreatment at Dream Dental Clinic

Dream Dental Clinic in Apgujeong has been doing veneer and crown retreatment for 20 years.

We safely remove the existing restoration.

Veneers are removed with a laser; crowns are removed with minimal damage.

We fabricate naturally using the build-up method.

Translucency, color, and shape are all made to look like a natural tooth.

We turn the disappointment of previous treatment into complete satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1. Do I need more tooth reduction for crown retreatment?

A. In most cases, almost no additional reduction is needed. Once the existing crown is removed, the tooth underneath is already in a reduced state. The new crown is made based on that state, so there's usually no need to cut away much more. However, if the existing reduction was inadequate or there's decay, a small amount of additional reduction may be needed. Only the minimum necessary reduction is done, after a precision diagnosis.

Q2. How is veneer retreatment done?

A. Veneers are removed with a laser. The laser breaks down the adhesive between the veneer and the tooth, safely lifting the veneer off. This is a method that minimizes damage to the tooth. After removal, we check the condition of the tooth and fabricate a new veneer. If the original treatment was done with minimal reduction, retreatment can also be done with minimal reduction.

Q3. Can an old crown also be changed to look natural?

A. Yes, it's possible. The key is the difference in fabrication method. In the past, crowns were often made opaque from a single ceramic. Now, they're made with translucency using the multi-layer build-up method, layering several types of ceramic. Even with the same all-ceramic crown, the result can be completely different depending on the fabrication method. Through retreatment, an opaque, unnatural-looking crown can be changed into a natural, beautiful one.

This article was written based on the actual clinical experience of Dr. Park Jonguk of Dream Dental Clinic, Apgujeong. He has practiced esthetic dentistry for 20 years and has treated many veneer and crown retreatment cases. He has published Korea's first veneer clinical textbook.