23

Oct

When your teeth break, chip, or develop a cavity, their look and functionality are impacted. Dentists use various treatments, like dental crowns and veneers, to treat damaged teeth. These treatments do not work the same and are used in different situations. You need a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and underlying structures for your dentist to recommend the ideal treatment for your damaged teeth.

Restoration treatments are helpful because they change your teeth’s appearance and improve their functionality. It helps to understand your treatment options and the pros and cons of these options so that you can make an informed decision. A skilled dentist can help you narrow your choices to the most suitable ones.

Veneers and dental crowns have similar applications but are suitable for different situations. Your skilled dentist can help you understand the differences, advantages, and disadvantages and make the right choice for your damaged teeth.

Veneers vs. Dental Crowns

Veneers are thin layers of porcelain (or other materials) that dentists bond to a damaged front tooth to improve its look and strength. They are very thin, about one millimeter in thickness, dental restorations that fit perfectly on a damaged natural tooth without interfering with its structure.

Dental crowns are thicker than veneers and are designed to cover the entire damaged tooth to improve its appearance, structure, and functionality. They are made from porcelain materials, all-metal alloys, or a mixture of porcelain fused into metal. You choose the material you prefer for your dental crowns depending on your preference and budget.

Veneers and dental crowns serve the same purpose of restoring damaged teeth. However, they are designed and applied differently to different situations. Your choice between a veneer or dental crown will depend on the condition of your damaged tooth and the expected results. Here are examples of dental issues you can fix with a veneer or crown:

  • Discolored teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Weakened or decayed teeth
  • Cracked, broken, or chipped teeth

Dentists can match veneers and dental crowns to your natural teeth’s color to ensure the treatment is as discreet as possible. However, you can choose an all-metal crown for a different look.

How Dental Veneers Work

Dental veneers are thin tooth restorations designed to cover the front part of a damaged natural tooth. They do not cover the entire tooth like dental crowns, which makes them less invasive. Dental veneers do not also require extensive preparation of your damaged tooth for restoration. This leaves much of your natural tooth intact.

If you choose a dental veneer or your dentist recommends one for your damaged tooth, they will give your damaged tooth a little preparation to make the restoration easy and long-lasting. The preparation entails roughening the tooth’s enamel to make it easy for the veneer to bond with the tooth. Modern veneers do not require your dentist to roughen your tooth so much, which is beneficial since much of your natural tooth remains intact.

Typically, installing a dental veneer is a less invasive procedure. This means you will likely experience minimal or zero pain and discomfort. However, you could require local anesthesia to remain calm and relaxed throughout the procedure.

Your dentist must determine your suitability for dental veneers and recommend them for tooth restoration. One of the main qualifying factors for veneers is that your damaged tooth must have sufficient enamel to hold the veneer in place for years. Remember that the veneer must bond well with your natural tooth to restore its structure and functionality. If your tooth is severely damaged, your dentist will recommend an alternative treatment, like a dental crown.

How Dental Crowns Work

A dental crown is a restoration that covers an entire tooth, not just a part of it like a veneer. It covers a damaged tooth to improve its appearance, structure, and functionality. However, the dentist must prepare the damaged tooth well to install a crown.

Dental crowns are suitable for teeth damaged by cavities. However, the dentist must remove the decayed part of a tooth before installing the crown. This can be very painful and highly invasive, necessitating local anesthesia.

The installation process for a crown starts with creating impressions of the damaged tooth so the dentist can make a crown in a dental lab. The impressions help create a crown that fits perfectly over the damaged tooth. The dentist must also prepare the teeth by removing part of the damage and the enamel for a perfect fit.

Once the crown is ready, the dentist will fit it over the prepared tooth to test its fit. If necessary, the dentist will make minor adjustments and then cement it using special cement. They will use a special light to heal the cement and ensure the crown remains in place for years. 

When to Choose Veneers Over Dental Crowns

Although veneers and dental crowns work almost the same and for the same purposes, dentists use them for different applications. There are instances when your dentist will recommend a veneer over a crown and, other times, a crown over a veneer. Here are reasons for you to choose a veneer over a dental crown:

If You Need a Conservative Dental Restoration

When determining the proper treatment for your teeth or gums, dentists must consider your preference and other factors like your budget and the most beneficial treatment. Your dentist must discuss your options, explain the pros and cons of each treatment, and allow you time to choose the one you prefer the most. Regarding dental restorations, some treatments are more conservative than others. If you are afraid of intensive dental treatments that are painful or take a long time, you can choose a more conservative treatment like veneers.

The installation of veneers is less invasive and does not entail much. Your dentist only needs to make a small preparation on your damaged tooth to roughen it so the veneer can attach well. This procedure can be done in the dentist's office within minutes.

If a veneer can work on your damaged tooth and you prefer a more conservative treatment, your dentist will install a veneer rather than a crown. You will experience less pain and discomfort than you would if you chose a crown.

If the Damage is on Your Front Tooth

A damaged front tooth will affect your appearance, confidence, and your teeth’s functionality. You need immediate treatment to restore your beauty and trust and improve your teeth function. Damaged front teeth require a different kind of treatment than damaged back teeth. Veneers are specially designed for the front teeth. They are sleek and beautiful, exactly what you need to restore your smile and confidence.

Thus, if one or more of your front teeth are damaged, your dentist will recommend a veneer rather than a crown.

If You Need a Long-Lasting Treatment

Dental restoration procedures take a long time and can be costly. Thus, you must carefully choose a procedure that will produce long-lasting results to avoid going through the same procedure soon after treatment. Although veneers are not as durable as crowns, you can enjoy excellent results for up to seven years. This means so many years of better-looking teeth.

If your front teeth are severely discolored or chipped, veneers can cover the imperfection well and remain intact for years. Once the veneers wear down or are damaged, you can return to the dentist for a fresh installation. Veneers provide an ideal treatment for someone seeking lasting results on a budget. You do not need to pay a lot of money for a treatment that will give you up to seven years of treatment.

If You Want to Retain Much of Your Natural Tooth

How your tooth is prepared for restoration also matters when choosing a treatment for your damaged tooth. Some treatments, like the installation of dental crowns, require more preparation on your damaged tooth. The dentist must remove the damaged part of your tooth and add more enamel so that a crown will fit perfectly over the tooth.

However, there are better choices than this if you prefer a treatment that will save much of your natural tooth. Most people choose veneers because they are sure to keep much of their natural teeth. Dentists do not remove the enamel to prepare for a veneer. If anything, your tooth must have sufficient enamel to fit a veneer.

Thus, talk to your dentist about how much of your natural tooth you want to keep. They will help you narrow down your treatment options.

If You Need the Restoration for Aesthetic Purposes

Veneers are an excellent choice for people who need dental restorations for aesthetic purposes. If one of your front teeth is discolored or has a cavity, and it affects your look and confidence, a veneer can change that. A dentist can use a veneer to cover the imperfection on the tooth to boost your confidence and restore your beautiful smile.

Veneers are mainly used to restore the appearance of front teeth. You can choose a veneer that looks exactly like your natural teeth or of a different color to enhance your look and smile. Your dentist will design a restoration that matches your needs and the final look you have in mind.

Dental crowns are mainly used to restore damaged teeth' structure and functionality, not for their aesthetics. If your back teeth are severely damaged, your dentist recommends a crown, not a veneer.

You Are on a Budget

When looking for a dental restoration, your budget is a critical factor to consider. Dental restorations are usually costly. While insurance companies cover some dental treatments, you could be required to pay for a part or the entire treatment if your insurance does not cover it. Thus, narrowing down your treatment options according to what you can afford is necessary.

Dental veneers are more affordable than dental crowns. This is because their installation does not involve much. If you have a tight budget and a veneer can restore your damaged tooth, you can opt for a veneer to improve your appearance and your tooth’s functionality.

If You Prefer Simple Dental Procedures

Many people are generally afraid of lengthy dental procedures, which explains why some people delay dental treatments until their condition worsens. Fortunately, dentists have simple procedures today for various dental issues, including damaged teeth. If your teeth are chipped, decayed, discolored, or misshaped, and you are scared of a lengthy dental procedure, you can opt for a veneer instead of a dental crown.

The process of installing a veneer is straightforward. After examining your teeth and taking impressions of the damaged tooth, your dentist will make a minor preparation of the tooth to prepare it for installation. This simple procedure takes just a few minutes. Once the veneer is ready, your dentist will install it using a bonding material and cure it using a special light.

The procedure is also not painful, making it suitable for everyone, including children and older adults.

If You Need a Temporary Restoration

If your teeth’ appearance changes overnight or within a short period, it could be difficult to restore them if you do not have the money for a complete restoration. However, your dentist can recommend veneers as a temporary solution before gathering enough money for a more costly procedure like installing dental crowns. This can work well if you need a more permanent solution for your damaged teeth.

Remember that veneers can last for about seven years, after which you will need a reinstallation to enjoy better-looking teeth. If you need longer-term service, you can use veneers temporarily and change to a more permanent restoration after a few years.

Fortunately, veneers are usually not permanent, like dental crowns. Additionally, much of your natural teeth remain intact during the installation of veneers, allowing you to switch quickly to a different treatment once you have enough funds.

The installation Process for Dental Veneers

Any dental restoration procedure starts with an initial visit to the dentist’s office for a thorough teeth examination. Your dentist must determine the condition of the damaged tooth, the adjacent teeth, and the health of your gums and underlying structures to recommend a suitable restoration. They will also review your treatment history to ensure it does not affect or interact with your current or previous treatments.

If you are suitable for veneers, your dentist will make impressions of your damaged tooth using digital scanning equipment or a mold. They will use the impressions in a dental lab to customize veneers that fit perfectly on the damaged teeth. If your dentist does not have a dental lab in their facility, they will send the impression to a different location where your veneers will be designed.

The dentist will then prepare the damaged teeth for restoration. Preparation entails trimming part of the tooth and roughening the front surface for easier veneer bonding. If the preparation is done on a different day from the installation, your dentist will send you home with a temporary veneer to protect the prepared tooth. The temporary installation will also strengthen the prepared teeth, making speaking and eating easier before the treatment.

When the veneer is ready for installation, you will return it to the dentist’s office for bonding. Dentists use a special cement to bond the veneer with your natural tooth. They will also use a special light to heal the bond and keep it intact for years.

Once the installation is done, the veneer will not move or shift. However, if you habitually clench or grind your teeth, you must wear a mouthguard to protect the installation from damage.

Your dentist will also send you home with a few after-treatment tips to care for your veneers after installation. For example, you must maintain a regular oral hygiene habit and avoid habits that could damage your veneers, like opening bottles with your teeth. You must also contact your dentists immediately after you realize a problem with your veneers. If you care for your restorations well, you can enjoy them for years without needing replacement. Dental veneers can last for up to seven years with proper care.

Find an Experienced Whittier Dentist Near Me

A dental restoration is necessary if you have a cracked, chipped, or decayed tooth. You can also restore discolored, stained, or misshapen teeth. Your dentist will recommend treatments according to the extent of your tooth’s damage, budget, and preference. Veneers and dental crowns are superior treatments for damaged teeth. However, you must carefully choose the most suitable ones for your needs and budget.

If your front tooth is slightly damaged, or you can only afford a minor restoration, we can recommend veneers at The Whittier Dentist. Veneers have other benefits, including their aesthetics, strength, and durability. Our skilled dentists will ensure you understand the pros and cons of your treatment options for easier decision-making. They will also review your medical history and the health of your teeth and gums to determine your suitability for veneers. Call us at 562-632-1223 to discuss your treatment and dental needs in detail.