Damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth can not only be painful, but they can also hurt your self-confidence. It’s not easy to feel good about yourself when you have to think twice every time you smile.
Fortunately, modern dentistry offers multiple solutions to these issues. Crowns and dental veneers can restore your mouth’s function while making your smile more aesthetically pleasing than ever. But what are these dental devices, and how do you know which one is best for you?
Veneers vs. Crowns: What Are They?
To understand the difference between veneers and crowns, you first need to understand what each device is.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells that are fitted over your existing teeth to restore their function and improve their appearance. Ceramic, porcelain, and composite resin are the most common materials used to create them. Porcelain veneers are the strongest, most natural-looking option, while composite veneers are the most affordable.
Veneers can be used to correct:
- Minor chips and cracks
- Slightly misaligned teeth
- Worn teeth
- Small gaps
- Discolored teeth
Veneer placement is mainly cosmetic, meaning it improves appearance above all else. However, veneers can improve oral health by making oral hygiene easier and reducing your risk of decay and gum disease.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a prosthetic device designed to look and feel like a natural tooth. The prosthetic is a little cap that fits over a compromised tooth to provide protection and stability. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramic, or composite resin.
Dental crowns can be used for:
- Protecting a severely decayed tooth
- Restoring a damaged tooth
- Protecting cracked or broken teeth
- Protecting a tooth after a root canal
While veneers replace the tooth surface, dental crowns offer more extensive reshaping. They can replace a severely damaged tooth and help protect the natural root.
Veneers vs Crowns: The Biggest Differences
There are many key differences between crowns and veneers. Some of the most significant among them include:
Purpose
Veneers are mainly a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of your smile. Crowns are a restorative and cosmetic procedure that can improve appearance but mainly restore and protect teeth. Crowns can also restore any kind of tooth, while veneers are designed for front-facing teeth only.
Procedure
The veneer procedure requires less preparation and less reduction of the existing tooth. Dental crowns require your dentist to remove a significant portion of the tooth and reshape the remaining tooth. Both procedures require the production of custom prosthetics based on a mold of your teeth. These processes can take a few weeks.
Durability
Veneers are thinner and therefore somewhat less durable than crowns. However, because veneers are placed over front-facing teeth, they also don’t typically endure a ton of bite force. Conversely, the molars that crowns cover need to be more durable because they do much of the heavy chewing.
Cost
Typically crown procedures are more expensive, as they’re more extensive and require more material. However, while veneers are generally cheaper, they’re also not normally covered under insurance. That’s because they’re considered a cosmetic procedure. Crowns, on the other hand, are considered restorative and are more frequently covered under dental insurance.
Veneers vs. Crowns: Which Should I Choose?
There are significant differences between veneers and crowns. Determining which is the better option for you will depend on the following:
- Your Dental Needs: If you want to improve the appearance of your front-facing teeth, veneers are your best option. If you want to protect a single damaged tooth and improve its appearance, choose a dental crown.
- Your Oral Health: You can’t place a veneer over a decayed or significantly damaged tooth. If the tooth you wish to repair is in that condition, you may need to opt for a crown. You may also need a crown after you’ve had a root canal, and the treated tooth requires some extra stability and protection.
- Your Dentist’s Advice: If you’re still unsure about which option to choose, speak with your dentist. They can assess your oral health and suggest the best procedure for you.
Contact Babylon Dental Care Today to Learn More
Whether you’re looking to protect your oral health with a crown or improve the appearance of your smile with dental veneers, Babylon Dental Care‘s restorative dentistry team can help. Call (631) 983-6665 or contact us online today to schedule your consultation.