Veneers or Crowns: What’s Best for Me?
If you’re ready to address issues and imperfections in your smile and get the grin of your dreams, both dental veneers and dental crowns can make a significant impact. But which one is best for you and your dental needs?
The experienced dentists at Dental Studios in Summit and Westfield, New Jersey, know different patients require different treatments based on their unique needs and cosmetic goals. We offer multiple smile solutions, including dental veneers and crowns.
Here’s a closer look at these two effective ways to address many smile concerns and how to know which is right for you.
Understanding crowns and veneers
Veneers and crowns are both dental restoration methods that can improve the look and function of your teeth. The main difference is that a veneer covers only the front of your tooth and a crown covers the entire tooth.
Dental crowns
Dental crowns are thin (about 2mm thick) customized dental caps, or prosthetics. Dentists use crowns to strengthen damaged or decayed teeth and to make cosmetic improvements. This treatment usually requires 2-3 dental visits and may involve X-rays and dental molds.
Your provider first prepares your tooth by removing any decay and shaping it so the crown can fit. The dental lab then makes your customized crowns to fit comfortably over your tooth. When it’s ready, your provider places the crown and fixes it in place with dental cement.
These caps can be made from different materials, and the material choice depends on the reason you’re having a crown placed. These materials include:
- Ceramic
- Stainless steel
- Porcelain
- Resin
- Gold or other alloy
If you need or want a crown, your Dental Studios provider talks to you about which type of crown is right for you. Once in place, crowns are easy to care for with good dental hygiene and regular dentist visits.
Dental veneers
Veneers are customized dental shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. They’re thinner than crowns (about 1mm thick) but are also permanently fixed in place with dental cement.
These dental shells are most often made from porcelain or resin, materials that look like your teeth’s natural color and appearance. Like crowns, veneers are custom-made at the lab to perfectly fit each tooth.
This procedure usually requires two dental visits. Your provider first removes a thin layer of enamel from your teeth and then takes a mold. The mold goes to the lab along with instructions about the desired appearance of the veneers.
When the veneers are ready, your provider bonds them to your teeth with dental cement. They last for many years, and are easy to maintain with regular brushing and flossing.
Reasons to consider veneers
Veneers are an excellent choice when you have minor to moderate cosmetic dental concerns. This treatment makes a great solution for many problems, including:
- Stained or yellowed teeth
- Teeth with minor cracks and chips
- Gaps between teeth
- Minor misalignment
- Uneven or misshapen teeth
Once in place, veneers look and feel like your natural teeth. You can smile, laugh, eat, drink, and talk like normal, without worry about them moving or someone being able to identify your dental solution.
Reasons to consider crowns
If you have an issue with the health of your teeth, you might need a crown. Dentists use crowns to save teeth that have extensive decay, significant cracks or breaks, or damage at the edges from grinding.
Your provider may also recommend a crown if you’ve had previous dental work and want to cover it for a more uniform smile. And cosmetic crowns solve many of the same cosmetic issues as veneers but can be used when the issue affects more than just the front surface of the tooth.
Deciding what’s right for you
The best way to learn whether veneers or crowns are best for you is to schedule a consultation with a smile expert at Dental Studios. Your provider discusses your goals with you and evaluates the health of your teeth to make a personalized treatment recommendation.
Both treatments require a visit for prepping your teeth and creating an impression for the dental lab. And with both veneers and crowns, a return trip is needed to place the veneer or crown and make any final adjustments to fit and appearance.
To learn more about whether veneers or crowns are right for you, contact Dental Studios in Summit or Westfield, New Jersey via our online appointment tool or over the phone.