When Is It Better to Have Dental Crowns Instead of Veneers?

When Is It Better to Have Dental Crowns Instead of Veneers?

Nov 01, 2022

Both dental crowns and veneers can drastically improve your teeth’ appearance and optimize their function. In many cases, you will not have a hard time choosing between dental crowns and veneers, particularly if you rely on the expertise and recommendations of a dentist near you. Still, both offer different benefits, making them uniquely useful for specific tasks in dentistry.

What Are Dental Crowns?

They are tooth-shaped and tooth-colored porcelain appliances that cover the whole tooth. Dental crowns typically replace the entire exterior of a tooth to repair damaged tooth enamels. A dentist near you removes a substantial amount of your tooth enamel to create room for a dental crown.

The procedure for dental crowns near you entails local anesthesia to numb your mouth beforehand. Afterward, the dentist will use a dental drill to shave your tooth enamel. The goal is to remove all the damaged portions of your tooth’s structure while creating room for the crown. After drilling, the dentist will use dental cement and laser to cure it, adhering the crown to your remaining tooth structure.

What Are Dental Veneers?

They are tooth-shaped and tooth-colored porcelain appliances that dentists use in cosmetic dentistry near you. Dental veneers are similar to oral crowns, only that they cover the front sides of teeth. Ideally, the dentist would shave the front side instead of the entire tooth to create room for a dental veneer near you.

The procedure for dental veneers is similar to getting dental crowns in West Palm Beach, FL, only a bit less invasive. Using a dental drill, the dentist near you will trim your tooth enamel on the front side. The dentist will only remove as much tooth enamel as necessary to accommodate a dental veneer since you require enough enamel on it for an oral veneer to bond to the tooth.

How Are Dental Crowns and Veneers Similar?

Unless you know a few things about dentistry, you may not easily tell apart a crown from a veneer in someone’s smile. The most obvious difference is that dental crowns provide more coverage than veneers. However, the two oral appliances are similar in the following ways:

  1. Porcelain material – is the most ideal material for creating sturdy dental crowns and veneers. However, oral veneers can feature other materials like composite, while dental crowns can feature other materials like gold.
  2. Procedure – the installation process for dental crowns and veneers is very similar, from the drilling to the bonding stage.
  3. Aesthetics – dental crowns and veneers can drastically impact your smile’s aesthetics. They can influence your teeth’ color, shape, and size.

How Do You Know Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing the right oral appliance for your treatment will be overwhelming if you do not know what you want. Therefore, you must welcome assistance from our dental team at John S. Ledakis, DDS, PA. Some crucial considerations to determine whether you need a crown or veneer are:

  1. The extent of tooth damage
  2. Your preferences regarding the invasive needs of the treatment
  3. Your primary dental goals

When Are Dental Crowns the Better Option?

Usually, your attending dentist will let you know which oral appliance works best for your treatment. However, dental crowns are preferable under the following conditions:

  1. Weak tooth structure – if your teeth are weak, they will need more reinforcement to function optimally. Dental crowns are more suitable for strengthening weak teeth than veneer teeth.
  2. Extensive tooth damage – if a sizeable portion of your tooth breaks or you have severe dental decay, a tooth crown is the best treatment option.
  3. An underlying tooth filling – after getting a dental filling to repair your cavity, you may need extra reinforcement from a tooth crown. Dental crowns are ideal for covering a tooth with large dental fillings.
  4. Premature tooth loss – dental crowns can benefit your smile if you have one or more teeth missing. Ideally, dentists cannot replace missing teeth with dental crowns alone. Instead, they work with dental implants and bridges to replace lost teeth.

Summary

If you are hesitant to get dental crowns, consult a dentist for insights on the best dental appliance. Ultimately, your needs and preferences should be a priority when choosing an oral appliance for your treatment.

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