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Veneers vs Crowns – How to Choose the One That’s Right for You

Veneers vs Crowns – How to Choose the One That’s Right for You

Veneers and crowns are 2 of the more popular methods of teeth restoration. You need teeth restoration when you have crooked teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, badly misaligned teeth or when your teeth are stained because of substance abuse or medicinal side effects.

Sometimes you need veneers and crowns when you have gone through root canal treatment for decayed teeth. When you want to improve and beautify your smile, these methods are used to give you more smile-worthy look to your teeth which makes for more confidence in social interactions online and offline. Both the methods work very well and depending on your need feasibility both give very good results.

Although both methods are very much in vogue, there are some basic differences in the way they work, and it helps to know how they differ to choose the best way for your need. It is always advisable to know the facts about the methods to be considered, when you discuss the procedure with your dentist.

What are veneers and crowns?

Crowns and veneers are a method for dental restoration. Both methods work by covering the front of the tooth or the whole tooth with an artificial substance which will add to its beauty and make it more functional.

Factors that separate the veneers from crowns

The following are the factors that separate veneers from crowns.

Materials

Veneer: It is very thin film of porcelain or composite material which is pasted onto the prepared front surface of your tooth. A bonding chemical is used to bond the veneer to the surface of tooth which can last for many years. The thin film is usually 1 mm thick. The colour can be matched according to your original tooth and it will be indistinguishable from other teeth.

Crown: A crown covers the whole tooth and is 2 mm thick because it needs to be stronger to cover the entire surface of the tooth. It is made with a variety of material which can be chosen from a variety of options available, according to need and cost. The popular material used to make crown is porcelain. The other materials used to make crowns include all metal alloy and also metal alloy fused with porcelain.

Teeth preparation

Veneer: The tooth has to be prepared before the veneer is applied on your tooth. The tooth will be scanned or a mould will have to be made. The tooth will have to be trimmed according to need.

For example, if the tooth had to be scrapped to remove a stain, the you may need a temporary veneer before the final veneer is made in the lab and is ready to be applied. When the permanent veneer is ready, it will need a special cement which is used for teeth only. The veneer will be bonded to the tooth with this special dental cement onto the tooth with the help of ultraviolet lamp. The veneer will remain bonded for a lifetime in most cases.

Crown: The dentist takes an image of the tooth by making a mould around your tooth, or he can take a digital image if he has this facility. The tooth will made according to this digital image or the mould. The tooth may be covered temporarily with temporary crown in the dentist’s office. When permanent crown is ready, the dentist will put it on your tooth and adjust it according to bite. It should give perfect bite with the upper or lower teeth as the case may be.

Once the crown is fixed and adjusted for the proper bite, it will last for a long period of time.

Cost

Veneer: Veneer is usually expensive but for the benefit it gives, the cost is reasonable. The cost of veneer depends on how many teeth are going to be treated, the surface area of the tooth and the place of the tooth in your mouth, whether in front or on the sides. The cost also depends on which area you reside in.

Crowns: The cost varies according to your needs and the material which you choose for the crown. The condition of the tooth that needs to be covered also decides the cost. If your tooth is decayed, and has undergone extensive work than the crown will be made according to the area and support the tooth needs. Ceramic and Porcelain crowns cost more than all metal crowns.

Special needs of the patient

Some people have problems with the kind of medicines they take and therefore are not allowed to use certain metals. According to their specifications, the dentist will decide to use whatever metal is suitable for them.

Points to consider before choosing between veneers and crowns

  • Veneers are used for cosmetic purposes more than crowns
  • Veneers are more pleasing and give a more beautiful smile than crowns
  • Veneers are wafer thing film of porcelain or composite material and therefore requires very little scrapping of tooth.
  • Crowns cover the whole tooth and a lot of work goes into fixing it, the lasting value is more in crowns than veneers.
  • Crowns are used more for restorative purposes and more basic issues of protecting teeth in dentistry than veneers.
  • When the tooth has become rough on the edges because of the grinding, the crowns are a better choice because veneers cannot cover the entire area of the tooth, it covers only the outer surface.
  • For damaged and traumatised teeth crowns are a better choice.

Whatever your choice, it is very important to maintain very good oral hygiene regime to keep the crowns and veneers intact and longer lasting.

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Make an Appointment
Contact Alphington Dental Care
Veneers vs Crowns – How to Choose the One That’s Right for You

Veneers vs Crowns – How to Choose the One That’s Right for You

Veneers and crowns are 2 of the more popular methods of teeth restoration. You need teeth restoration when you have crooked teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, badly misaligned teeth or when your teeth are stained because of substance abuse or medicinal side effects.

Sometimes you need veneers and crowns when you have gone through root canal treatment for decayed teeth. When you want to improve and beautify your smile, these methods are used to give you more smile-worthy look to your teeth which makes for more confidence in social interactions online and offline. Both the methods work very well and depending on your need feasibility both give very good results.

Although both methods are very much in vogue, there are some basic differences in the way they work, and it helps to know how they differ to choose the best way for your need. It is always advisable to know the facts about the methods to be considered, when you discuss the procedure with your dentist.

What are veneers and crowns?

Crowns and veneers are a method for dental restoration. Both methods work by covering the front of the tooth or the whole tooth with an artificial substance which will add to its beauty and make it more functional.

Factors that separate the veneers from crowns

The following are the factors that separate veneers from crowns.

Materials

Veneer: It is very thin film of porcelain or composite material which is pasted onto the prepared front surface of your tooth. A bonding chemical is used to bond the veneer to the surface of tooth which can last for many years. The thin film is usually 1 mm thick. The colour can be matched according to your original tooth and it will be indistinguishable from other teeth.

Crown: A crown covers the whole tooth and is 2 mm thick because it needs to be stronger to cover the entire surface of the tooth. It is made with a variety of material which can be chosen from a variety of options available, according to need and cost. The popular material used to make crown is porcelain. The other materials used to make crowns include all metal alloy and also metal alloy fused with porcelain.

Teeth preparation

Veneer: The tooth has to be prepared before the veneer is applied on your tooth. The tooth will be scanned or a mould will have to be made. The tooth will have to be trimmed according to need.

For example, if the tooth had to be scrapped to remove a stain, the you may need a temporary veneer before the final veneer is made in the lab and is ready to be applied. When the permanent veneer is ready, it will need a special cement which is used for teeth only. The veneer will be bonded to the tooth with this special dental cement onto the tooth with the help of ultraviolet lamp. The veneer will remain bonded for a lifetime in most cases.

Crown: The dentist takes an image of the tooth by making a mould around your tooth, or he can take a digital image if he has this facility. The tooth will made according to this digital image or the mould. The tooth may be covered temporarily with temporary crown in the dentist’s office. When permanent crown is ready, the dentist will put it on your tooth and adjust it according to bite. It should give perfect bite with the upper or lower teeth as the case may be.

Once the crown is fixed and adjusted for the proper bite, it will last for a long period of time.

Cost

Veneer: Veneer is usually expensive but for the benefit it gives, the cost is reasonable. The cost of veneer depends on how many teeth are going to be treated, the surface area of the tooth and the place of the tooth in your mouth, whether in front or on the sides. The cost also depends on which area you reside in.

Crowns: The cost varies according to your needs and the material which you choose for the crown. The condition of the tooth that needs to be covered also decides the cost. If your tooth is decayed, and has undergone extensive work than the crown will be made according to the area and support the tooth needs. Ceramic and Porcelain crowns cost more than all metal crowns.

Special needs of the patient

Some people have problems with the kind of medicines they take and therefore are not allowed to use certain metals. According to their specifications, the dentist will decide to use whatever metal is suitable for them.

Points to consider before choosing between veneers and crowns

  • Veneers are used for cosmetic purposes more than crowns
  • Veneers are more pleasing and give a more beautiful smile than crowns
  • Veneers are wafer thing film of porcelain or composite material and therefore requires very little scrapping of tooth.
  • Crowns cover the whole tooth and a lot of work goes into fixing it, the lasting value is more in crowns than veneers.
  • Crowns are used more for restorative purposes and more basic issues of protecting teeth in dentistry than veneers.
  • When the tooth has become rough on the edges because of the grinding, the crowns are a better choice because veneers cannot cover the entire area of the tooth, it covers only the outer surface.
  • For damaged and traumatised teeth crowns are a better choice.

Whatever your choice, it is very important to maintain very good oral hygiene regime to keep the crowns and veneers intact and longer lasting.