Real Patient Case

Conservative Front-Tooth Restoration With Crowns and Veneers

This patient came to Oak Hill Family Dentistry with malaligned—unevenly positioned—upper front teeth and an older crown that projected too far forward. The crown had been placed at a young age following dental trauma. The goal was to create better balance across the four front teeth while preserving healthy tooth structure and respecting the patient’s preferred color and appearance.

BeforeBefore treatment showing misaligned upper front teeth and an older protruding dental crown
Before: Unevenly positioned upper front teeth with an older crown that projected too far forward.
AfterAfter treatment showing crowns on teeth 8 and 9 and veneers on teeth 7 and 10
After: Completed four-tooth restoration with crowns on #8 and #9 and veneers on #7 and #10.

A Coordinated Four-Tooth Plan

Teeth #8 and #9—the two center front teeth—were restored with crowns. A crown covers more of the tooth and can address both restorative and cosmetic needs. Teeth #7 and #10, the smaller incisors on either side, received veneers. Veneers are thin ceramic coverings bonded primarily to the front surfaces of the teeth.

Using crowns and veneers together allowed Dr. Mike Jin to reduce the overly prominent contour of the previous crown while coordinating the shapes and proportions of all four teeth.

Conservative Preparation

In dentistry, “preparation” means carefully reshaping a tooth to create room for its restoration. Each tooth was prepared only to the minimal extent needed to provide adequate space and ceramic thickness. This helped avoid a bulky appearance while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.

Dental shade tabs used to evaluate color for front-tooth crowns and veneers
During: Careful shade evaluation adjusted around the patient’s preferred color.

Shade selected together

Color Selected With the Patient

The during-treatment photos show shade tabs being compared directly with the patient’s teeth. Shade selection involves more than choosing how white a tooth should be; brightness, warmth, translucency, and the surrounding teeth all influence the result.

Most importantly, the shade was adjusted to reflect the patient’s specific esthetic and color preferences.

Dental shade tabs used to evaluate color for front-tooth crowns and veneers
During: An additional shade comparison used to refine the patient’s preferred color.
Close side view during preparation and shade evaluation for front-tooth crowns and veneers
During treatment: Close-up shade evaluation for the planned crowns and veneers.
Close side view during preparation and shade evaluation for front-tooth crowns and veneers
During treatment: Tooth preparation and color were evaluated from multiple angles.

The Result

The final crowns and veneers created a more balanced appearance across the four upper front teeth, with improved contours and a coordinated shade selected alongside the patient.

Wide before-treatment view showing misaligned upper front teeth and an older protruding dental crown
Before treatment: Wider view of the unevenly positioned upper front teeth and older crown.
Wide after-treatment view showing crowns on teeth 8 and 9 and veneers on teeth 7 and 10
After treatment: Wider view of the completed crowns and veneers.
Close-up after-treatment view showing four restored upper front teeth
After treatment: Supporting close-up of the completed four-tooth restoration.

Thoughtful options for restoring your smile

If you are concerned about an older crown or would like to explore options for improving the shape, color, or balance of your smile, our team can help.

Request an Appointment

Individual results vary. Treatment recommendations are based on each patient’s oral health, existing restorations, bite, and personal goals.

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