veneers vs crowns

Veneers vs Crowns: What’s The Difference?

Author: PV Smiles Reem Kidess | Posted on with comments

Cosmetic dentistry continues to reward patients with more options on dental restoration. The most common among them is the use of dental veneers and crowns. 

Now the big question is, which is best for you among the two? Know that the difference between getting either veneers or crowns lies in the procedure. 

How veneers and crowns differ

veneers vs crowns Thin and tooth-colored, veneers are permanently attached to only the front side of the teeth. They are  commonly made from porcelain or materials containing resin which are modeled to fit a patient’s teeth, improving its color, shape and overall appearance. 

Dental veneers has two main types:

Composite veneers

These veneers don’t need to be produced in a laboratory. It can be manufactured right on the dental clinic and can be applied directly on the teeth. It’s best for a one-time appointment.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are those that are made in a laboratory that needs to be molded to your tooth. Two appointments are necessary if you plan to undergo this procedure.

difference between veneer and crown Crowns, on the other hand, is a type of dental restoration that covers the entire tooth. It’s thicker than a veneer by about 1 millimeter, and can either be tooth-colored or metal-colored, whichever the patient prefers. 

You can choose from these types of crowns:

All Porcelain crowns

This is the most popular type of crowns which use porcelain to cover the entire tooth. All porcelain crowns have the best natural look and are toxic-free. However, porcelain is more delicate than metal, and are more prone to damage.

Porcelain Fused-To-Metal Crowns

With the strength of metal and the aesthetics of porcelain, you’ll have the best of both worlds with PFM. It’s a tad cheaper than all-porcelain too. However, the metals attached to it may cause a grey line around the gums, making it look more unnatural.

Gold or All-Metal crowns

These are crowns made from either alloy, copper and other metals such as nickel and chromium. They are strong and durable which can last you longer. However, if you plan to have natural-looking crowns, this type of material won’t get you that.

Zirconia crowns

The more popular choice lately are the Zirconia crowns. They’re stronger and durable than porcelain, and can also produce great aesthetics.

E-max crowns

The newest and most expensive are E-max crowns. They’re an all-ceramic crown that is made from lithium disilicate. It has great aesthetics, is durable, strong, and natural-looking.

Both veneers and crowns are types of dental restoration procedure that offer solutions to restore cracked, discolored, and chipped teeth. They are also recommended for teeth with gaps restoration, fixing smaller-than-average teeth proportions, and treating unusually shaped teeth. Since they need to be attached permanently to your teeth, certain adjustments must be made in preparation.

Preparing your teeth

Because veneers and crowns are attached permanently into the teeth, a fraction of your teeth should be removed to make way for it. Your original teeth will have to be formed, scraped, and trimmed so they can hold them better. 

Veneers tend to be the more conservative option because they are thinner and are only attached at the front surface of the teeth. This means that your dentist will only need to remove a small portion of tooth enamel at the front side.

At PV Smiles, we offer two options of tooth preparation for dental veneers:

Traditional dental veneers

In here, teeth will be prepared by scraping or shaving a layer of your tooth enamel to give way for the veneers. The thickness of the layer depends on the thickness of the veneers that will replace it.

Prepless dental veneers

The good news is that at PV Smiles, our Prepless veneers can let you have veneers without having to scrape or trim a part of your teeth. This means that if you decide to take them off after, your permanent teeth will still be there, unchanged.

Crowns are a different story. A big 60% to 70% of the teeth must be trimmed to be able to hold the crown in its proper place. This is because the crowns go all the way around each of the teeth that needs restoration.

For some cases however, tooth trimmings for veneers may also be required to eliminate a large part of the teeth. This usually happens when alignment correction is needed. That’s why you should ask your dentist’s assessment first so you’ll know what you should prepare for.

Veneers vs Crowns: Pros and Cons

Assessing which of these two to get can be a little confusing. Keep in mind that when you get either, there’s no turning back. So with veneers vs crowns, which is worth it? Here’s a list of the pros and cons to weigh in before you get decided.

Veneers Pros: 

  • Unlike crowns, veneers won’t show a gum margin after some time of wearing it.
  • Less of the teeth will be removed. For prepless veneers, your original teeth will remain unscathed.
  • There will only be minimal movement in the teeth
  • Composite veneers cost less than other materials made in crowns

Veneers Cons:

  • Veneers can only last up to 5-7 years.
  • The areas of the tooth that are not covered are still prone to decay.
  • It’s not covered by dental insurance

Crowns Pros:

  • All-around protection from tooth decay is attainable, as crowns cover the whole tooth.
  • You can clean them like a regular teeth
  • There are types of crowns that will look very natural.
  • Unlike veneers, dental insurance can cover a part of the costs for crowns.

Crowns Cons:

  • All your original teeth will have to be trimmed. There’s no turning back.
  • Gum margin will be visible. Some patients have reported to have gum pains after some time.
  • Porcelain is a delicate material that can be damaged through time
  • Metal crowns and PFM may not look aesthetically pleasing

Check out this article on Veneers vs Lumineers.

PVSmiles’ state-of-the art facilities and Dr. Reem Kidess’ expertise in dental cosmetics can help you achieve the perfect white smile of your dreams. Our dental veneers will gain you your newfound confidence. All you need is one appointment— book a schedule with our Scottsdale dental office!