If you are looking for added protection for a tooth that has sustained structural damage, your dentist may want to shield it with a dental crown. You might also know of another dental treatment that goes over the front of your teeth: porcelain veneers.
Though these procedures seem alike, they offer quite different benefits. To clarify the type of treatment you need for your unique smile, you should understand what each one can offer you. Read on to learn the similarities and differences between covering your teeth with dental crowns and porcelain veneers.
Structures of These Dental Fixtures
The veneers that your dentist will provide for your smile are made from porcelain. They build dental crowns from a very similar material: ceramic. Both of these are renowned for their durability. You can expect both treatments to withstand the wear and tear that your teeth experience every day.
The shapes of each of these dental fixtures vary. Crowns form a cap that will cover the entire surface of the tooth, providing full protection against threats to your smile. Porcelain veneers look like shells and they adhere to the front of a patient’s teeth, offering aesthetic enhancement to only this part of the tooth.
Expectations for Your Dental Procedure
Just as the shape and coverage of these dental treatments differ, you will see similarities and variations between each procedure too. Before you receive a dental crown, your dentist must first prepare the surface of the tooth.
This involves removing a minute amount of enamel to make room for its cap. Then the dentist will place the custom-made crown and secure it with dental cement. Porcelain veneers also require prior preparation of the tooth enamel.
The dentist will etch into the teeth to make them more amenable to receiving the veneers. When the veneers, also customized, are ready, your dentist attaches them to the teeth with dental bonding. You can expect similar appointment lengths, healing periods, and dental prep with these treatments, though they differ slightly.
Experience a Variety of Oral Health Benefits
Dental crowns are a restorative dental treatment, meaning dentists employ them to repair and protect a damaged tooth in order for it to function and feel complete and healthy again. Though porcelain veneers are cosmetic dental tools, they can provide this type of protection for the front of an affected tooth. Both treatments can shield chips and cracks in a tooth.
Veneers create a whiter and more regular smile. Crowns can also achieve this as they are custom-made for each unique patient. These fixtures can cover tooth discoloration and give it a brighter look.
Both dental tools appeal to patients and dentists alike because they are long-lasting. With proper care, they can remain secure on your smile for fifteen or more years, offering both aesthetic and structural enhancement. Learn which of these treatments will best improve your smile when you schedule a dental consultation.