Do you ever feel self-conscious or embarrassed by the appearance of your teeth? Does your enamel look chipped, stained, or misshaped? Our Raleigh smile design team can help you restore your teeth to look their very best when it comes to crowns vs. veneers.
When it comes to a smile makeover, you might wonder if a porcelain crown or veneers are best. Both serve different purposes, so understanding the benefits of each will help you decide which one is right for you.
Cosmetic Dentistry: Dental Crowns vs. Veneers
You don’t have to be a movie star to enjoy a gorgeous new smile. Cosmetic dental crowns and porcelain veneers are great options if you’re looking to enhance the appearance of your teeth. Each one offers unique benefits, depending on what you’re trying to change about your teeth.
Porcelain veneers are restorations that are attached to the front of your teeth to cover the enamel behind them. Whereas dental crowns can be used to repair deep cracks or significant damage to teeth. The best choice depends on your needs. Our Raleigh cosmetic dentist will guide you through the planning process so that you feel confident about your smile design.
What Are the Differences Between Dental Crowns vs. Veneers?
Although both porcelain veneers and crowns can change the appearance of teeth, there are slight differences in how they are applied. Both can be used to improve the way damaged or misshaped teeth look from the outside. However, it is important to consider your anatomical needs before choosing which one to use. Let’s take a look at both the procedures.
Crowns can be used to restore broken or damaged teeth for functional purposes. These “caps” distribute the biting pressure to ensure that damaged teeth don’t become more damaged from daily use. Crowns are functional in nature, whereas veneers are not. They cover the entire tooth from the gumline to the chewing surface. And most noticeably, porcelain crowns are only used on one or two specific teeth at a time.
While dental veneers can be used to cover minor chipping in your teeth, they are only for cosmetic purposes. When we bond them over the front of your visible teeth, they change your smile’s appearance. We usually place veneers in sets of six or more depending on the width of your smile. These veneers help make your overall smile look straighter, whiter, and more properly shaped. They are strictly aesthetic, rather than functional.
Why Do I Need a Dental Crown?
Crowns act as protective covers that cover damaged teeth. They protect the entire tooth from any biting pressure, which could cause them to break apart during everyday use. A crown offers more reinforcement than a large filling.
If a tooth is unable to withstand daily biting and chewing pressure, a dental crown may be recommended. Our Raleigh dentist will most likely recommend a crown if you fit one of the following criteria:
- Older, large silver fillings
- Recent root canal treatment
- Extensive areas of decay
- Aggressive enamel wear
- Broken or chipped enamel
If you’re undergoing single tooth replacement with dental implants, our Raleigh cosmetic dentist will also need to place a crown on top of your new “artificial root.”
Crowns offer more reinforcement than dental veneers, which only cover the front of the teeth. Whereas crowns also protect the sides and tops of the teeth. A dental crown serves more a functional than an aesthetic role. However, modern dental crown materials have such high quality that advanced ceramics can be used to enhance the tooth’s appearance while also restoring its function.
Getting a Porcelain Crown
Porcelain crowns cover and restore the applicable tooth to its original function. A crown is strong enough to address large areas of damage while also allowing for normal chewing and biting. Today’s ceramic crowns are ideal for large cavities or cracks that cannot be repaired with a filling, inlay, or onlay. Plus, the porcelain is designed to match the color of your teeth and replicate intricate details in tooth enamel, making them look as natural as possible.
Porcelain crowns are a popular choice for patients with large cavities, single-tooth implants, or people who need to replace old silver fillings.
Should I Get Dental Veneers?
If you have healthy teeth but don’t like the way they look when you smile, dental veneers can make a huge difference. Veneers are bonded to the front of a natural tooth so they hide the structure behind them. No whitening or braces are usually necessary!
Veneers are elective cosmetic restorations that you might want to invest in if you have concerns about:
- Teeth that are crooked, crowded, or gapped
- Tooth enamel that’s chipped or uneven
- Deep stains and discoloration in your teeth that don’t respond to the whitening gel
- Unusual tooth shape and size
Raleigh dental veneers are often compared to artificial fingernails. The veneers are placed over the actual tooth but change the appearance and shape of what you see from the outside. We can customize your veneers according to your preferences.
Our Raleigh dentists recommend that you make sure to have healthy gums and teeth before applying cosmetic restorations like veneers. Veneers are not recommended in cases of active tooth decay or periodontal disease. Each of these issues must be addressed before veneers can be applied.
Best Uses for Dental Veneers
Dental veneers can be used to correct a variety of cosmetic issues, including tooth discoloration, missing teeth, crooked or chipped teeth. But they do not cover significantly broken or decaying enamel like crowns do. Depending on how your teeth are shaped and aligned, veneers eliminate the need for braces or whitening, because of how well they fit alongside one another. Occasionally, veneers can be used in limited cases to repair a tooth that’s slightly damaged, provided it is structurally sound.
Cosmetic veneers are easy to apply and last for several years when properly cared for.
How Many Crowns vs. Veneers Do I Need?
Most dental crowns are placed on selective damaged teeth or an individual dental implant. One crown is usually enough. We might recommend a pair of crowns if you have a broken front tooth. This will ensure that the space is consistent in color and aesthetics.
Dental veneers, on the other hand, are typically delivered in sets of 6-8. It is important to cover all the upper teeth visible inside your smile zone.
Choosing the right number of veneers or crowns is key to deciding which treatment is best for you. A person will typically need more veneers for their teeth than crowns.
Can Crowns and Veneers be Combined?
Yes! This approach allows for a consistent aesthetic result since crowns and veneers can both be made of the same porcelain material. However, they usually need to be made and delivered at the same time for optimal color matching. It’s more challenging to try to match porcelain when the restorations aren’t made at the same time.
Is Follow-Up Care Different for Crowns vs. Veneers?
It is very easy to maintain dental crowns or veneers. Brush and floss your teeth every day. You also want to avoid using your teeth to open packages or bite your nails. To prevent your restorations from breaking, we recommend wearing a nightguard, especially if you are prone to grinding and clenching your teeth.
A crown or veneer will last longer when taken care of properly. Both crowns and veneers can usually last between 10 to 15 years in most cases, provided they are given the proper attention and maintenance.
Why Consider Dental Veneers or Crowns Instead of Fillings?
Fillings go inside of teeth, whereas crowns go over and around them. For damaged front teeth, cosmetic dental crowns are usually best. And in instances of root canal therapy or tooth replacement with dental implants, a crown will be your only option to restore that area of your mouth.
If you’re looking to improve the appearance of multiple teeth at once, veneers will work best, assuming your teeth and gums are already healthy. While crowns are usually limited to one tooth, veneers can address multiple teeth at one time.
Raleigh Dental Arts will help you select the right cosmetic dentistry treatment for your needs.
Your Custom Smile Evaluation
Raleigh Dental Arts works closely with each client to offer personalized care tailored to their individual needs. We’ll examine your bite and determine whether veneers or crowns are right for you. Then we’ll then create a customized treatment plan, which will outline the costs and procedures involved.
Partnering with our Raleigh dentist will also help you discover additional aesthetic services such as whitening, bonding, or recontouring. Your care plan will be customized to meet your needs, budget, timeline, and goals. Everyone’s vision and oral health needs are different.
Smile Makeovers in Raleigh
Are you looking for the best Raleigh cosmetic dentist? Raleigh Dental Arts is accepting new patients and offers flexible financing plans. Enjoy access to quality, comfortable care close to home.
