Crowns Vs. Veneers: What's the Difference?

Thanks to modern dentistry, there are many ways for people to get the smile they have always dreamed of. No matter if you’re struggling with missing teeth, severe staining, or tooth misalignment issues, there are procedures out there that can help you improve your look.

If you’ve been researching cosmetic dental procedures, you might now be wondering which of them is perfect for you and your needs. At Oak Creek Dental Care, we see many patients asking us about two procedures in particular: dental crowns or veneers.

If you want to learn about the differences between these two procedures, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to find out which one is best for your needs.

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are a type of dental prosthetic used to strengthen a natural tooth that has been fractured, chipped, or that’s suffered a big cavity.

Crowns are custom-made for each patient, so they effectively restore a person’s smile while simultaneously addressing some dental health concerns. While dental crowns are not used for cosmetic reasons only, they can be a great choice for patients with 1-2 impacted teeth that need more support.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are another type of dental prosthesis, but this type will give a much more prominent new look to patients. Veneers are thin ceramic prosthetics that get placed on the front surface of your natural teeth. They are a great option for patients struggling with badly stained teeth, size irregularities, gaps between teeth, and more.

The Major Differences Between Them

Let’s look at some of the things that truly set these two procedures apart:

• The Procedure Itself - Dental crowns involve shaving the natural tooth enamel quite a lot, and then the crown is placed on top to protect it. This is usually the result of tooth decay where the dentist removes a lot of the tooth’s natural enamel, so instead of a normal filling, the patient needs something stronger to protect the tooth. Veneers, on the other hand, don’t require a lot of enamel shaving, and you can even find no-prep veneers that leave your teeth perfectly intact;

• The Look - Dental crowns are made to go over the tooth, while veneers cover the entire arch, so their effect is much more prominent. If you’re looking for a bolder change, veneers might be a better option;

• The Cost - In general, veneers are more expensive than dental crowns because of the way the procedure is designed;

• Dental Health Support - Dental crowns can protect the natural tooth against decay, while veneers do not, since they are only applied to the top surface layer. However, with both procedures, you will still need to care for your oral health needs!

Still not sure which procedure is for you? Oak Creek Dental Care can help! Book an appointment with Dr. Ehsan Saleki today to get started.