Both dental veneers and crowns can change the appearance of your teeth, and each offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Veneers and crowns are dental restorative methods that can enhance the appearance and functionality of your teeth. The key difference is that a dental veneer only covers the front of the tooth, while a crown conceals the whole tooth. Dental restorations can be costly, so it's important to choose the appropriate procedure. Although the two methods differ, they both have a high success rate. If you want to restore your teeth but are unsure whether to go for dental veneers or crowns, contact an experienced dentist. A dentist will evaluate your teeth and decide whether you are a candidate for dental veneers or crowns.

Dental Veneers Vs. Crowns

A veneer is a thin layer made of porcelain or other material, measuring roughly 0.5 to 0.7mm in thickness. This layer is bonded to the front of an existing tooth. On the other hand, a crown covers the whole tooth and is about 2 mm in thickness. It could be made of porcelain, an all-metal alloy, or porcelain fused with a metal alloy. Whether you are a candidate for dental veneers or crowns depends on several factors, including the condition of your teeth and the problem you intend to fix. Some of the conditions that can be fixed using dental restoration include the following:

  • Crooked teeth
  • Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
  • Discolored teeth
  • Decayed or weakened teeth

Dentists can choose veneers or crowns that match the color of your teeth. However, when you opt for all-metal crowns, they will not match your teeth's natural color.

Understanding Dental Veneers

Unlike a dental crown, a veneer covers the tooth's front surface. Dental veneers are less invasive than dental crowns since the preparation process leaves your original teeth almost intact. When placing a dental veneer, the dentist removes about half a millimeter of your tooth enamel from the front side to roughen the surface. This allows the bonding of the veneer. The newer types of dental veneers do not require much tooth surface grinding. The dentist might administer local anesthesia when fitting dental veneers because the grinding could be painful. For a veneer to work well, the tooth must have adequate enamel to bond to.

Placing A Dental Veneer

Here is what you should expect during the placement of a dental veneer

  • The dentist takes an impression of the tooth using a mold or digital scan. The mold or the image could be sent to a laboratory if the dentist lacks a laboratory facility.
  • The dentist can put a temporary dental veneer on the tooth until the new veneer is ready; however, this will depend on the portion of the tooth trimmed
  • When you are ready for the permanent veneer, the dentist will remove the temporary one and replace it with a permanent one. The permanent veneer is bonded to the tooth using a unique cement, and the dentist uses an ultraviolet light to harden the veneer.
  • There will be minimal to no movement when a veneer is placed. However, sometimes you might have to wear a night guard to safeguard the veneer, especially if you grind or clench your teeth while sleeping.

Understanding Dental Crowns

Unlike a dental veneer that only covers the front area of the tooth, a crown conceals the whole tooth. When placing a dental crown, the dentist must file or grind down the tooth to prepare it for crown installation. For a decayed tooth, your dentist removes the damaged area of the tooth before placing the crown. The dentist might have to rebuild the tooth using composite material to hold the crown. Your tooth might also have to be built up if it is damaged. You will be under local anesthesia during the dental crown procedure.

Placing A Dental Crown

Here is what you should expect during a dental crown placement:

  • The dentist will create an impression of the tooth by making a mold or scanning it digitally. This image or mold is sent to a laboratory for dental crown fabrication if the dentist does not have a laboratory facility.
  • Your dentist might put a temporary dental crown on the target tooth while awaiting the permanent one.
  • When the permanent dental crown is complete, the dentist removes the temporary dental crown and places the permanent crown on the tooth. The dentist then adjusts the permanent crown to ensure it fits well and the bite is okay. The dentist then cements the new crown into place. Dental crowns might experience some movement, which can alter your bite. If this happens, you should revisit your dentist to have the dental crown adjusted.

How can you know whether to choose dental veneers or crowns? A dental crown would be a better option if your tooth has a large filling, you have undergone a root canal, or the tooth is cracked or worn out. A dental veneer would be appropriate if your tooth is intact and the restoration is mainly cosmetic. You can also use dental veneers to make minor corrections to your tooth shape.

Reasons For Choosing Dental Veneers Over Dental Crowns

Both dental veneers and crowns serve the function of covering dental flaws like cracks, chips, gaps, and misalignment. Today, most dental offices recommend veneers over crowns for several reasons. Some of the reasons why you might choose dental veneers over crowns include the following:

Veneers Are Less Invasive

When placing dental veneers, the dentist only removes a small portion of the enamel on the tooth's front side to accommodate the veneers. This means the dentist does not touch the tooth's corners or backside. There is minimal change in the tooth's shape, especially if you opt for composite veneers. This means that even after the dentist removes a thin layer of your enamel and attaches a veneer to the tooth, the tooth will still be strong and stand on its own.

If you place composite veneers, no grinding is required to give the tooth an appropriate size and shape to match the other teeth. This minimal alteration does not need anesthesia, and the risk of damaging the tissues and nerves during tooth grinding is low.

On the other hand, dental crowns require extensive tooth alteration because the dentist must grind the front corners and the back side to allow the appropriate fitting of the dental crown. This extensive filing down of the tooth before placing the dental crown is an intricate process, and sometimes, the dentist can remove 60 to 75% of the enamel. Therefore, when acquiring dental crowns, there is more extensive alteration than when using veneers. The dentist must be careful when placing dental crowns to avoid damaging the nerves. Placing dental crowns can also be uncomfortable; thus, anesthesia is required. After you remove dental crowns, your tooth might not be strong enough to stand independently, given the extensive grinding. You might need another dental procedure to strengthen the tooth.

Appropriate For Minor Dental Issues

Veneers are perfect for minor dental issues like gaps between teeth, slight chips or cracks, or slight misalignment. If you want to fix a small cosmetic or minor oral problem, opt for a dental veneer. Therefore, veneers are suitable for minor teeth misalignment or for correcting small issues without the need for braces. If your primary purpose is to improve or enhance the appearance of your teeth, veneers are a good option. Your dentist might not suggest dental crowns because they are best suited for correcting major dental issues. A dentist would only recommend a dental crown if you have undergone a root canal treatment or have a severely chipped or cracked tooth. Unless you have severe tooth damage to the extent that you require a crown to keep the tooth intact or avoid tooth extraction, you should go for veneers.

Dental Veneers Are More Affordable

The cost of dental crowns and veneers can vary depending on several factors, like the demand for the treatment, the complexity of the dental restoration, the location of the dental clinic, and the dentist's expertise. However, considering the price only, dental crowns are more expensive than veneers. Dental crowns can range from $1,000 to $3,500 for one tooth.

On the other hand, the cost of veneers varies depending on the material used. If you prefer porcelain veneers, the price can range from $925 to $2,500 per tooth. Composite veneers can range from $250 to $1,500 per tooth. Whether you opt for composite or porcelain veneers, the price will be lower than that of dental crowns. This makes veneers a good option if you want to fix minor dental issues and are on a tight budget.

However, even if dental veneers are more affordable than crowns, insurers consider them a cosmetic dental procedure. This means that many insurance companies do not cover dental veneers. However, in some cases, they are deemed medically necessary, and some insurance plans may provide partial coverage. If you have dental health insurance coverage, you might pay less for dental crowns than if you receive dental veneers. The insurance company will play a crucial part in determining the full cost of crowns because they are not purely cosmetic.

For a patient who acquires dental veneers, the procedure is cosmetic. Therefore, most insurance companies would be reluctant to cover the treatment. You would have to pay the full amount out of pocket, making the treatment expensive. The good news is that today, many dentists offer flexible repayment plans for cosmetic dental procedures. Therefore, even though your insurance does not provide veneer coverage, you can still speak to your dentist and work out a repayment plan to help make the process pocket-friendly.

Another reason why dental veneers are more affordable is that you will not require any additional dental procedures. Veneers seek to correct minor defects, so you do not need expensive treatment before acquiring veneers. With dental crowns, the price does not include additional procedures like core build-up or root canal therapy, which might be necessary before placing the dental crown. Therefore, you will have to pay for other dental procedures and the cost of dental crowns.

Instant Results

Especially if you choose composite veneers, the dentist can complete the process during a single visit. Therefore, the results of dental veneers can be instant. You can still get instant results with porcelain veneers, but you must visit a dental office with in-house technology to make veneers on the same day.

With dental crowns, it can take time before the results are visible. If you have underlying problems like tooth decay, the dentist must first address these problems before attaching the dental caps.

If the tooth damage is beyond repair, a tooth extraction might be necessary, after which a dentist places a dental implant. A dental implant takes months to fuse with your jawbone, and you will operate with a temporary crown during this period. It might take up to six months to receive the permanent crowns, which is why dental crowns do not offer instant results.

Veneers Offer A Perfect Fit

Dental veneers have minimal movement, which prevents bite problems or gum recession. If you opt for dental veneers, you will not have bite-related issues like dental crowns. With dental crowns, if movement is involved, it can lead to bite-related problems and gum recession.

More Aesthetically Pleasing

When a dentist attaches veneers to the front surface of your teeth, they improve the appearance and can last for decades without losing their beauty. They do not reveal the gum margins even after several years, and this means that the beauty achieved after the treatment can last for decades. On the other hand, crowns made of porcelain fused with metal alloy might show a dark line between the natural tooth and the cap. This can adversely affect the appearance of your smile in the long term. Sometimes, the natural teeth can change color while the crowns remain the same, compromising your smile.

Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me

Dental veneers and crowns improve the overall appearance and functionality of your teeth. Veneers are ideal for cosmetic dental procedures, mainly for minor dental issues, especially for the front teeth. Dental crowns, on the other hand, are suitable for fixing major dental problems, especially when a root canal is needed. At La Puente Advanced Dentistry, we have committed dentists with vast experience in cosmetic dentistry. Our dentists will examine your teeth and advise you on whether to go for dental crowns or veneers. Contact us at 626-626-7075 to speak to one of our dentists.