CASE · Cosmetic dentistry
Severely Crooked Teeth Without Braces: Veneers Plus Two Crowns (Case Study)
With severe crowding, you may be told veneers will not work, and that is not wrong. Treating every tooth the same way often fails. For this woman in her 20s, we crowned only the two teeth that were badly out of line and used veneers with minimal reduction on the rest, aligning her smile without braces.
Case at a glance
- Concern: Straighten crooked teeth without the long time braces take (woman in her 20s)
- Diagnosis: Severe crowding of the upper and lower front teeth; protruding upper central incisors with a gap; both upper lateral incisors pushed inward; protruding, overlapping lower incisors
- Treatment: Crowns on the two badly angled upper lateral incisors, CERANATE porcelain veneers on the others
- Tooth reduction: varied tooth by tooth (enough on the two crowned teeth, minimal elsewhere)
- Shade: natural, slightly bright
Can veneers work on badly crooked teeth?
With severe crowding, veneers alone are often judged too difficult, because reducing every tooth the same amount does not work.
The key is adjusting the reduction tooth by tooth. When the approach depends on how far each tooth is out of line, some cases can be corrected without braces.
Which teeth got crowns, and which got veneers?
- The two upper lateral incisors with the largest angle difference: crowns, with enough reduction to rebuild their shape
- All other teeth: veneers, no-prep or minimal-prep (case by case, decided after diagnosis)
Instead of heavily reducing every tooth, only the badly angled teeth were reduced enough and the rest were preserved as much as possible. She understood and agreed to this plan before we started.
What did the result look like?
The upper front teeth form an even line, and the lower teeth match them in shape and color. The gums remain healthy, the shade is natural and bright, and both appearance and bite are stable.
When is this approach not suitable?
Not every case can be treated with veneers. Tooth position, angle and bite all have to be assessed. With even more severe crowding or bite problems, braces may avoid tooth reduction and be better long term. Our lead dentist, a board-certified orthodontist, also checks whether braces would suit you.
How long do I need to stay in Korea, and what does it cost?
When veneers and crowns are combined, the schedule depends on the number of teeth and the bite. We suggest a plan after reviewing your X-ray and photos.
Typical fees per tooth: porcelain veneer KRW 550,000–770,000 including VAT (about USD 415–581); front all-ceramic or zirconia crown KRW 700,000 (about USD 528). Converted at USD 1 = KRW 1,325 on 2026-10-23.
Frequently asked questions
Another dentist said veneers would not work for me.
Opinions can differ depending on the crowding and how much change you want. Send photos of your teeth and we will tell you how we would approach it.
Do the crowned teeth need a root canal?
Not always. It depends on the tooth position and reduction, and we explain this before treatment.
When are braces the better choice?
With severe crowding, bite problems, or if you want to avoid reducing teeth, braces may suit you better.
Will the veneers and crowns look different?
They are made to the same shade guide so they look natural side by side.
This case was treated at our clinic. The article was medically reviewed by Dr. Sunmin Kim, our lead dentist and a board-certified orthodontist.
About the reviewer
Dr. Sunmin Kim is the lead dentist at Ceramic Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a board-certified orthodontist (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea) with a PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Our clinic is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to treat international patients.
Important information
This is a real case. Results, treatment time and the number of visits vary from person to person.
How much tooth structure is removed for veneers or crowns depends on the case. Some cases can be no-prep or minimal-prep (case by case, decided after diagnosis), others need more. After bonding, sensitivity, chipping, debonding or gum changes can occur, so regular check-ups are needed.
Photos show teeth only and are published with the patient’s consent. Fees are as of October 2026.
Questions about your own teeth?
Send us photos of your teeth for a preliminary opinion. A final plan and quote are given after an in-person examination.
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