Are you happy with your smile? Do you have a dead tooth, chips, or cracks visible when you smile? Dental veneers and crowns are restorations to your dentures that improve your teeth functionality and cosmetic appeal. Depending on your need, the dentist can apply either a crown or a veneer. Though the two will enhance your smile, there are several differences among them. Therefore, it is crucial to select the option that is right for any situation. He can help you if you experience high sensitivity in your teeth, then you take anything cold or hot. The sensitivity is because of the loss of enamel. A warm smile is a sign of self-confidence and esteem, and if you have the above issues, that can be hard to give. These dental fixtures revitalize your smile to make it healthy and warm.
Dental crowns
A dental crown is a tooth cap used to fit teeth damaged by cracks, chips, or neglect. Crowns cover the area of the tooth that has been damaged and are made of porcelain or acrylic. You can combine them with metals like gold or silver and then fixed by gluing them over your damaged tooth surface. Crowns can fill the spaces between the teeth. Dentists use them to solve the following various issues.
Uses of dental crowns
- To repairing a broken tooth
- To protect a weak tooth
- For covering teeth that are out of shape
- Protect teeth that are vulnerable to decay and being broken
- Protect teeth that have an existing large filling
- Protecting teeth that have undergone root canal treatment from re-infection and splitting.
- To shield highly sensitive teeth, and
- As a cosmetic option to improve your smile
Crowns can be temporary or permanent, depending on your problem.
The process used to fix a dental crown
Dental crowns need some preparations for the tooth. We do this by filing the enamel to provide room for the crown. The dentist then makes an impression of both the trimmed tooth and those surrounding it. Then they send their molds to the laboratory for your crown to be made. When your crown is ready, you return to the dentist’s clinic. In that visit, the dentist makes the enamel rough to hold the crown. The dentist then glues the crown to the prepared tooth.
Dental veneers
These are wafer-thin coverings that are fixed on the front surface of your teeth. They create a natural, even white smile without using dental implants or prosthetics. If one of your front teeth is discolored, chipped, smaller than average, or broken, the dentist can recommend dental veneers. To add symmetry to your front teeth, you can opt to have the veneer fixed on the damaged tooth or have 6-8 fixed to the front teeth.
Fixing
Unlike dental crowns, Veneers the filing of your tooth is minimal. To make room for the veneer, the dentist trims the surface of your tooth by about half a millimeter. The dentist then forms an impression of your teeth and Sends it to the laboratory, where the technicians make your veneer. Another visit to the dentist is necessary for the dentist to roughen up your enamel and fix the veneer to your tooth’s surface when it is ready. The veneer’s cement is then hardened by shining an ultra-violet light on them.
Depending on your preference, the dentist can make the veneers from porcelain or a composite. Porcelain veneers have a translucent look that gives them a natural appearance. Compared to composite veneers, porcelain ones are more expensive but have a longer lifespan too.
So, having seen what both veneers and crowns are, how can you distinguish them?
The difference between dental veneers vs. dental crowns
Lifespan
The lifespan of a dental fixture is a crucial factor to consider. The lifespan of a dental crown is longer compared to that of a veneer. It is because the dental veneers are thinner compared to the crown. This depends on the material used to make them.
Protection
If you have tooth decay, broken, or chipped teeth, dental crowns are the better option. They cover most parts of your tooth, protecting it from various infectious vectors. Conversely, veneers leave part of your tooth exposed, leaving the cracked or decayed part prone to other infections.
Cost and insurance
Although the cost depends on your location, the material used to make the fixture, and the extent of the damage, dental crowns are cheaper than dental veneers. In the US, the cost of dental crowns is between $800 and $1,000. Veneers cost between $1,000 and $2,500 per tooth. Because of their duration, the cost is worth it.
Since they consider veneers cosmetic, insurance companies do not pay for them. For the crown fitting, some plans accept the responsibility of paying up to 50% of the total cost.
Their appearance
You apply porcelain veneers as a cosmetic option. They are thin and look similar to an artificial fingernail. The primary aim of applying dental veneers is to improve the look of your front teeth. They fit slightly into the front of your teeth and overlap at the edges to secure the fit. They are thicker than veneers. Thus, the dentist has to do more filling than in dental veneers. We do the filing on both sides of the tooth.
Conversely, dental crowns are a tooth restoration measure, although they can give you a similar look to the veneers. Crowns are covers that slide over the compromised tooth to protect it from further issues.
Application
While you must apply a veneer to a natural tooth, you can fit a dental crown as a dental implant. This way, it acts as a replacement for the tooth. We apply the veneers to the front-facing teeth while we fit the crowns mostly to molars and premolars.
The role
As discussed above, dental crowns serve as a restorative treatment measure while using veneers for cosmetic purposes.
Dental veneers vs. dental crowns: which option is right for you?
Are you considering restoring your tooth and giving that smile a healthy appearance? Then both are great options. If the reason is cosmetic purposes, then dental veneers are the way forward. For any restorative purpose, the better option is to use dental crowns. Consult your dentist first before embarking on either procedure for check-ups and advice on the best option.
Bottom Line
Teeth give your smile that healthy and shiny look. Therefore, you need to ensure that they are taken good care of. If it is too late, and for various reasons, your teeth require restoration, consult your dentist for the best type of treatment for you. For cosmetics, dental veneers are probably the better choice. This is because tooth filling is less compared to the crown process. Inquire from your health insurer if they cover these dental procedures and what percentage.