Both dental crowns and porcelain veneers are forms of cosmetic and restorative dentistry and can disguise unsightly issues with your teeth. Dental veneers are meant for the front of a damaged tooth, whereas dental crowns are meant for the crown of the tooth, or the part of the tooth that is above the gum line. Dental crowns add a bit of stability to your damaged tooth, while veneers are more cosmetic in nature.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin pieces of ceramic laminate that are placed over the front of your tooth. In some instances, a very small fraction of your enamel will need to be shaved off in order to ensure that the veneer does not stick out or look different than the rest of your teeth. Because the veneer only affects the front of your tooth, it is not applicable in situations where the crown is no longer viable. Veneers are typically used to reshape a tooth, cover up a crack, eliminate stains, or make a misaligned set of teeth look straight.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a more substantial cosmetic dental procedure as they help the entire surface of the tooth recover. Crowns are typically made from porcelain, but are also available in metal and gold. Porcelain is the typical choice because it mimics the appearance of your other teeth, making it less obvious that you have restorations in your mouth. Dental crowns are often used in the case of severely cracked teeth, tooth decay, infection, or after a root canal. Dental crowns basically leave the root of your tooth intact while replacing the rest of the tooth with the crown. The crown will be durable, but care should still be taken when chewing hard foods as it will not be as stable as your natural teeth.
Dental veneers and dental crowns are both effective ways to restore the appearance of your teeth. The reason for the damage will determine what type of restoration you need. The procedure to place a dental crown is more invasive than dental veneers, but it also offers more benefits in the long run. Both procedures are done in multiple steps as we need to create a mold of your mouth and have the perfect veneer or crown made to fit your mouth perfectly as well as to mimic the appearance of your surrounding teeth.
