I hear this question from people who don’t like the way their front teeth look when they smile. There are many reasons for this reaction.

When front teeth have large stained fillings.
Depending on the size and shape of the fillings, and position of the front teeth, this situation can be improved by replacing the old fillings with new ones. This is of course the quickest cheapest way to improve a smile. When replacing fillings is not enough, veneers often won’t work either.

Teeth with big fillings don’t make a good foundation for supporting veneers. In this case full crowns are the best answer. They can be all porcelain or porcelain-fused to metal. There are advantages to both. Certain degrees of crookedness can be corrected with crowns.

When the problem is small yellow teeth
Dark teeth look smaller than they are, so I often suggest bleaching the top and bottom teeth. Once the teeth are bright white they appear larger and minor crookedness is not as noticeable . This again can be a fast easy solution for some people. Large and normal size yellow or grey teeth also look better once they are bleached white.

Do veneers last a lifetime?
No they don’t. Veneers are porcelain covers glued to the front teeth, after a small amount of enamel is removed to make space. Well-made veneers will last 8 to 12 years. Over the years the glue joint deteriorates and stain takes hold. Even when the joints are hidden between the teeth, the staining shows through. If you are 25 years old, how many replacements will you need by the time you are 75?

How long do crowns last?
Crowns can last 10 to 30 years depending on many factors. A lot of things happen to people and their mouths over the decades.