What is the difference between Porcelain veneers and crown
Crowns and veneers are two different types of dental restorations. They work by covering an existing tooth with a covering to improve its appearance or function. The fundamental distinction between a veneer and a crown is –
- The amount of original tooth that is removed
- The thickness of the covering material, and
- The amount of tooth that is covered.
Crowns and veneers both work well to improve the aesthetic appearance of teeth. Now let’s see what they are –
A veneer is a wafer-thin piece of porcelain that is bonded to the front of a tooth. The porcelain is tinted to match the colour of your natural teeth. Veneers are robust but brittle, and they can be dislodged or cracked by violent or repetitive blows.
The entire tooth is encased in a crown. Metal, porcelain, or a combination of the two can be used to create it. It is often roughly double the thickness of a veneer, making it more robust and resistant to cracking.
Variations in tooth preparation
- Veneers are a less invasive treatment option than crowns. In order to place a veneer, less of the tooth must be taken. In most cases, your dentist will only need to remove a little layer of dental enamel from the front of the tooth and will not need to touch the core or back of the tooth.
Before a crown can be installed, between 60 and 75 percent of the exposed tooth must be removed. This usually entails a two- to four-fold reduction in tooth size compared to veneers.
In the preparation required for veneers and crowns, there is sometimes a combination of both. Teeth being prepped for veneers may occasionally be accompanied by the harsher trimming characteristic of crowns in circumstances where veneers are being utilized to rectify alignment.
When do veneers make the most sense?
- When the concerns you want to fix are modest and aesthetic in nature, veneers are a terrific option.
- Veneers are a great way to fix issues including discolored teeth, chipped teeth, slight cracks in teeth, small gaps between teeth, and superficial misalignment.
- Veneers can greatly improve the overall colour and regularity of the teeth in these circumstances, resulting in a much better smile.
Except in very rare instances, once a veneer has been placed on a tooth, it will always need to be covered in the future. A replacement veneer may be required, or the tooth may need to be further reduced to allow for the implantation of a crown. Veneers are as permanent as crowns and should not be chosen based on whether they are temporary or changeable.
When do crowns make the most sense?
- When there are more basic concerns with existing teeth, crowns are usually required instead of veneers. When teeth gets badly fractured or cracked, or teeth that require root canal therapy, are examples of these scenarios.
The crown keeps the tooth intact and protects it from additional damage that could result in extraction. The crown becomes the new exterior surface for the tooth once it is cemented firmly into place, keeping the nub of the old tooth safely inside.
- Another instance when crowns are preferable over veneers is when the tooth’s edge has been damaged by grinding. The front of a tooth is covered by a veneer, but not the margins. As a result, ground-down teeth frequently require crowns to improve their appearance.
Crowns are a good option for damaged teeth since they can change the colour and contour of the existing teeth significantly. The tooth will always require some type of covering once a crown has been installed.
The Difference in Appearance
For starters, a porcelain veneer is solely a cosmetic procedure. This repair is extremely thin and resembles a fake fingernail. Veneers are thin shells that are placed over your front teeth to improve their appearance. To help ensure a secure fit, these fabricated covers fit over the front of your tooth and slightly overlap the edges.
A crown, on the other hand, can have the same final appearance as a veneer but is a restoration that is done to genuinely heal your tooth. They’re complete covers that fit over weak or otherwise compromised teeth to protect them from further trauma. Because crowns are thicker than veneers, dentists will need to remove more tooth structure during the first appointment. This includes your tooth’s entire back and sides.
Insurance coverage differences
Crowns and veneers are relatively close in price. Veneers, on the other hand, are typically seen as merely cosmetic procedures and are hence unlikely to be covered by dental insurance. Crowns are more likely to be covered by dental insurance because they are used to treat both functional and aesthetic issues.
Keeping your beautiful smile
Your veneers or crowns should last for about ten years if you take good care of them –
- Although the porcelain used for veneers and crowns is stain-resistant, they can still become stained if not properly cleaned and flossed.
- Because whitening and bleaching treatments don’t work on these types of restorations, it’s especially important to practice good oral hygiene and eat well.
- It’s also crucial not to damage your crowns and veneers by biting on hard objects, as this will shorten their lifespan and detract from your beautiful smile.
Let’s get a recap on the differences between Veneers and Crowns
- Veneers are thin shells that cover only the front surface of a tooth. A crown is a dental restoration that restores the whole biting surface of a tooth.
- A veneer can only be used on a natural tooth. A dental crown can be attached to a dental implant and used to replace a natural tooth.
- Veneers are often used on front-facing teeth, while crowns are reserved for molars and premolars when used on natural teeth.
- The cost of a veneer is much less than the expense of a crown.
- While veneers and crowns can be produced from some of the same materials, crowns have a wider range of materials due to the higher force they are subjected to when chewing.
- Crowns are essentially a restorative therapy that happens to restore look; veneers are predominantly a cosmetic treatment with some restorative functionality.
Which Is Better for You: Veneers or Crowns?
Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you believe you need a crown or veneer, but aren’t sure which one is ideal for you. If you want a smile makeover, it’s not uncommon to use a combination of veneers and crowns. Please contact the dentists’ office right away!