While both veneers and crowns can enhance your smile, they’re typically used for different reasons. They have other similarities – like their material, porcelain – but ultimately, dental crowns are used to restore tooth structure while veneers are used to improve the aesthetic appeal of a smile. The way a crown is placed is very different from how veneers are applied – although both restoration options are able to function just like your natural teeth. A dental crown covers your entire tooth, similar to a cap, and veneers are placed over the front of your teeth. So whether you have enamel erosion or severe discoloration – your dentist can help you to decide which option would be best, depending on your individual situation.
When Do You Need Veneers?
Veneers are made extremely thin, to fit over the front of your teeth. While they do restore the overall appeal of your smile, they also preserve majority of your tooth structure (unlike other restoration options). However, removing tooth structure is unnecessary with veneers because they’re often used as a cosmetic approach – for things like misshaped teeth and spaces between your teeth – and, as we previously mentioned, severe discoloration. Sometimes, deep bleaching isn’t able to remove deep, permanent stains, but veneers can cover the poor color of your smile – replacing it with bright, white “teeth.”
Is A Dental Crown Necessary?
While dental crowns can also change the shape of teeth – they’re only necessary in situations where significant tooth structure is compromised. Since veneers are so thin, crowns provide much more strength for your tooth because of the added material – especially on the teeth that really need it, like your molars, for chewing. Crowns are also placed on top of dental implants, to provide the aesthetic appeal and overall function of a natural tooth.
Do you need to restore a tooth (or multiple teeth)? Don’t hesitate to contact your dentist today.
