Comparing Dental Veneers and Crowns: Which Are Better?

Dental veneers and crowns are popular and effective options for repairing tooth damage for improved oral function, appearance, and health. While both treatments are effective and offer numerous benefits, they vary in terms of suitability, durability, materials, and preparations. This article discusses dental veneers and crowns to help you make an informed decision.

What are Dental Veneers?

A tooth veneer refers to a thin, custom-made shell bonded to the front of a tooth to hide or repair imperfections. The veneer effectively changes the tooth’s shape, size, and color, giving it a more natural, flawless, and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Veneers are commonly used for cosmetic reasons to correct minor dental flaws like:

• Tooth chips and cracks
• Teeth stains and discoloration
• Misshapen or uneven teeth
• Minor teeth misalignments
• Improper teeth gaps

Dental Veneers Procedure

Getting a veneer is straightforward. The dentist will examine your tooth’s condition and mouth to determine whether veneers suit you.

If you’re eligible, getting a traditional veneer takes about two appointments. The dentist prepares the tooth on the first appointment. This involves removing a thin enamel layer to create enough room for the veneer to fit perfectly. Then, impressions of the teeth and other records are taken and sent to a dental lab where the custom veneer is created.

In the meantime, the dentist can prepare and place a temporary veneer for protection. On the next visit, the dentist removes the temporary veneer and cements the customized one permanently. Contact our dental office for dental veneers in Weymouth, MA.

What are Dental Crowns?

A tooth crown refers to a tooth-shaped, custom-made dental cap placed over a damaged tooth, completely covering its visible structure above the gum line. A crown hides or camouflages any damage to the tooth’s surface, restoring the tooth’s size, shape, strength, and appearance.

Dental crowns are commonly used to correct a variety of dental flaws, including:

• Teeth damages like chips, cracks, breaks, and decay
• Root canal-treated tooth
• Misshapen or uneven teeth
• Excessively worn-down or eroded teeth
• Severely discolored teeth
• Missing teeth (with dental bridges and implants)

Dental Crown Procedure

The dentist will examine your teeth and mouth to determine whether a crown is right for you. Generally, crowns are used for restorative purposes to repair moderate to severe dental flaws.

If you’re eligible, the treatment takes at least two appointments. The dentist will prepare the tooth by shaving a minor portion of the enamel to create enough room for the crown. Then, impressions of the teeth and other details are taken and sent to a lab to fabricate the customized crown.

The dentist can place a temporary crown for protection. The temporary restoration is removed on the next visit, and the customized crown is fixed permanently. Visit our dentist for dental crowns in Weymouth, MA.

Veneers or Crowns: Factors to Consider

Below are major points of comparison and differences between veneers and crowns:

The extent of tooth damage:

Veneers are primarily considered a cosmetic solution for minor dental flaws like chips, gaps, cracks, or stains. On the other hand, crowns are ideal for moderate to significant tooth damage like severe fractures and decay.

Tooth preparation:

While the procedures for veneers and crowns are quite similar, veneers require minimal enamel removal, while crowns require more substantial enamel removal. Thus, veneers are more preservative than crowns.

Materials:

Veneers are commonly made from porcelain and composite resin materials. With crowns, you have more options like porcelain, composite, zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and gold.

Aesthetics:

Both veneers and crowns can be customized to match the shade of your natural teeth.

Cost:

Generally, dental crowns require extensive preparation and are thus more expensive than veneers.

Durability:

Depending on certain factors, dental crowns tend to be more durable than veneers. Veneers are very thin and thus more susceptible to damage, making them less durable.

Learn More about Veneers and Crowns

Do you have tooth damage that needs to be fixed? Or are you considering dental treatments like dental veneers or crowns? Contact Weymouth Dental Associates to book your consultation with our dentist and learn which option suits your needs.