Veneers and Crowns
Veneers and crowns are both dental restoration methods that can improve the look and function of your teeth. The main difference is that a veneer covers only the front of your tooth and a crown covers the entire tooth.
Dental restoration procedures are costly, so it’s important to know which one may be best for you. Although the procedures are different, both have good success rates.
What is a veneer?
A veneer covers only the front surface of your tooth. They’re not as invasive as crowns, because the preparation leaves more of your original tooth intact.
About half a millimeter of the enamel on the front of the tooth is ground down to roughen the surface for bonding the veneer. Some newer types of veneers don’t need as much grinding of the tooth surface. You may need a local anesthetic for this, because the grinding may be painful.
For a veneer to work properly, your tooth has to have enough enamel on it for a veneer to bond to it.
What is a crown?
A crown covers the entire tooth. With a crown, more of the tooth needs to be filed or ground down to prepare for the crown placement.
If you have tooth decay, your dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth before making the crown. In this case, your tooth may need to be built up to support the crown.
Your tooth may also need to be built up if it’s damaged. You may have a local anesthetic for this procedure.
How do you know which one is right for you?
If your tooth has a large filling, a root canal, or is very worn or cracked, a crown is likely the best option.
If your tooth is basically intact and the restoration is for cosmetic purposes, a veneer may be the best option. Veneers can also be used for minor shape corrections.