While the design, fabrication, and final appearance of crowns and veneers are similar, each has its own unique features and functions better in certain contexts than others.
Two other restorative options that can be employed to keep your smile intact are veneers and crowns. They can both make your teeth look and function better. Many people believe veneers and crowns to be interchangeable because they appear to offer the same advantages. There are some significant distinctions between these two treatments, despite the fact that they may appear to be comparable.
Here is a brief explanation of the distinctions between veneers and dental crowns in Evanston, how they function, and when each dental restoration technique should be used to assist you in choosing the one that is best for you.
Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers are often only one millimeter thick and are made from thin layers of fine, stain-resistant oral porcelain. With the majority of your natural teeth remaining intact after the treatment, veneers are a minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry alternative. Each patient receives a unique crown that securely covers the front of the tooth.
Your dentist near you will grind off around half a millimeter of the enamel on the front of your tooth to make it easy for the veneer to bind, as cement adheres best to a more uneven surface. This is done to create your tooth for a porcelain veneer. However, depending on the kind of veneer, different amounts of enamel may need to be removed. It’s essential to ensure that a veneer can only be applied to a tooth with healthy enamel already there.
Dental Crowns
As a dental crown completely encases the whole tooth, more of the natural tooth must be extracted before one can be connected. Normally, crowns are used to make teeth that have suffered severe decay, fissures, or fractures. Your dentist will have to extract the decayed portion and maybe reconstruct portions of the tooth so that it can sustain the dental crown if tooth decay is the cause of your need for a dental crown.
Crowns are most likely made of porcelain, all-metal alloys, or porcelain fused to metal alloys (PFM). Your dentist will craft the crown to securely fit over your tooth and then place it in position using cement.
What’s the Difference?
The fit of your teeth and the need for them make a huge difference between veneers and crowns. A dental crown covers the whole tooth, whereas a porcelain veneer only adheres to the front of the tooth. Due to their reduced gum margin, veneers are typically more visually pleasing than crowns. The thickness of crowns is two millimeters as opposed to one millimeter for veneers, and they are also more durable. While crowns can last the rest of your life, veneers might need to be updated after a set number of years.
How Do You Know Which One is Right For You?
You might use veneers and crowns interchangeably because they appear to serve essentially the same purpose.
Based on your individual circumstances, your dentist may suggest choosing one dental treatment method over another. Since the tooth enamel is weak and requires stronger protection when your tooth is severely injured, has a large filling, or has received a root canal, crowns are often the best option. On the other hand, porcelain veneers in Evanston work best for aesthetic reasons. Your dentist will mostly suggest porcelain veneers if your tooth is largely unharmed and simply needs a modest shape adjustment or an aesthetic enhancement.
To Learn More About Tooth Restoration, Reach Out to Us
Make an appointment with our dentist in NW Calgary at Sage Hill Dental as soon as possible if you believe you might need a veneer or crown but are unsure which option is ideal for you. Whether your dentist advises you to choose between veneers and crowns, you may be guaranteed to get a stunning smile and have your teeth function again. Call us right away!