Dental Veneers vs. Crowns: what is suitable for you?
Do you have dental imperfections like chips, cracks, breaks, or decay? Besides causing significant discomfort, these defects can affect your bite function, make you look less attractive, and increase your risk of further problems.
Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry in Dallas can help correct dental imperfections and improve the appearance and function of your teeth. This guide briefly overviews dental veneers and crowns, their key differences, and how a visit to our dentist in Dallas, TX, can help you choose the right option.
A Brief about Veneers and Crown
What are Dental Veneers?
A veneer is a thin tooth-colored shell or coating that’s adhered to the front surface of a damaged tooth, hiding or camouflaging any imperfections. A veneer is often made from composite or porcelain materials and is customized to match your natural teeth’ aesthetics. Thus, they effectively improve the tooth’s size, shape, and color. Since veneers are very thin, they don’t require significant enamel shaving. Therefore, they preserve more of your natural tooth.
What are Dental Crowns?
A tooth crown is a custom-made dental cap placed over a tooth, covering up the entire visible portion of the tooth. It effectively hides any imperfections and restores your tooth strength and function. Dental crowns match your natural teeth’ size, color, and shape. Since dental crowns are more invasive, they require significant enamel shaving.
Key Differences between Dental Veneers and Crowns
Below are the key differences between veneers and crowns:
- Function
While both veneers and crowns can improve the appearance of your teeth, they commonly serve different purposes. Since veneers are thin and only cover the front of a tooth, they are primarily used to:
- Brighten stained or discolored teeth
- Cover improper teeth gaps
- Correct minor teeth misalignments
- Teeth chips and cracks
- Improve the aesthetics of uneven or misshapen teeth
On the other hand, dental crowns are mainly used for restorative purposes to provide protection and strengthen a severely damaged or decayed tooth. However, since crowns cover the entire visible part of the tooth, they also offer cosmetic benefits. Common functions of dental crowns:
- Protect a severely damaged, decayed, or weakened tooth
- Protect eroded or worn-down teeth
- Improve the appearance of stained or discolored tooth
- Repair tooth chips, cracks, and breaks
- Cover a tooth after root canal therapy
- Protect a tooth with a large filling
- Improve the aesthetics of a misshapen tooth
- Support dental bridges or implants
- Tooth preparation
Tooth shaving is always necessary for dental veneers and crowns to fit perfectly without looking bulky or unnatural. Since a veneer is thin and only covers the front of a tooth, only a thin layer of the enamel is removed (usually less than 1mm). It makes veneers more conservative as they preserve more of the tooth’s structure.
With dental crowns, the dentist must remove a significant amount of the tooth’s enamel to accommodate the crown. It makes a crown more invasive since it significantly changes your tooth’s structure. Fortunately, they provide excellent stability and protection for the treated tooth.
- Materials
Dental veneers contain composite resin or porcelain materials. Dental crowns offer more options like metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia, all ceramic, gold, lithium disilicate, and composite resin.
- Durability
Both dental veneers and crowns are relatively strong and durable. However, dental crowns typically last longer, approximately 10 – 20 years. Veneers are less durable than crowns and can easily chip, crack, or fall out when exposed to excessive force. On average, veneers last for about 7 – 15 years.
- Cost
Since dental crowns require more work, they’re relatively more expensive than veneers. However, remember that the cost may vary based on the material used. Porcelain veneers typically cost about $800 – $2500 per tooth, while crowns range from $1000 – $3500 per tooth.
The Procedure of Crowns and Veneers
The procedure of dental veneers and crowns are quite similar. Both procedures require about two dental appointments and typically involve the following steps:
Dental veneers procedure
- Consultation: The dentist will examine your tooth and review your oral health and needs to determine whether veneers are right for you.
- Tooth preparation and impressions: The dentist will remove a thin enamel layer from the tooth’s front. Then, they take molds or impressions of your teeth and other records and send them to a dental lab to create a custom veneer.
- Temporary veneer: The dentist will create and place a temporary veneer to protect the prepared tooth as you wait for the permanent veneer.
- Placing the permanent veneer: Once the custom veneer is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary and bond the permanent veneer.
- Follow-Up appointments: A follow-up may be necessary to check the veneers’ fit and make necessary adjustments.
Dental crowns
- Consultation: The dentist will assess your tooth’s condition and oral health to determine your eligibility for dental crowns.
- Tooth preparation and impressions: The dentist will remove a significant part of the tooth’s enamel to create enough room for the crown. Then, they take impressions of your teeth and other necessary records, which create the permanent crown.
- Temporary crown: The dentist will prepare and place a temporary crown to protect the shaved tooth as you wait for the custom crown.
- Crown placement: Once the custom crown is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary and bond the custom crown permanently.
- Follow-Up appointments: The dentist may schedule a follow-up appointment to check the crown’s fit and bite and make necessary adjustments.
Visit Trinity Dental Loft to Know the Suitable Option for You
Do you need help deciding between dental crowns and dental veneers in Dallas, TX? Visit our office to book your consultation today.