What are dental crowns?
Typically, a dental crown is 2mm thick and encases the whole tooth, working as a “cap”. Dental crowns can be used to rebuild the strength of broken or decayed teeth, to restore the natural shape or size or generally just to improve appearances. Dental Crowns are best for more severely damaged or decayed teeth, as you need a good amount of natural material left to support veneers. A crown encases the whole tooth, with the ceramic material usually measuring 2mm thick – so they defend well against tooth grinding. They look equally as natural as a veneer.
What are dental veneers?
Veneers are thin but sturdy “shells” that are applied to the front of your teeth. This means they work best for teeth that are slightly misshapen, uneven, chipped or severely stained in a manner that cannot be rectified through whitening or other treatments. Veneers cannot structurally replace whole teeth, though they are extremely durable and last between ten and fifteen years on average. They are also very easy for cosmetic dentists to repair if any become chipped.
What is the differences?
The key difference between crowns and veneers is that crowns are thicker, covering the entire tooth whereas veneers are thinner and are designed to just cover the front of the tooth – so when it comes to which is best for front teeth, it really depends on the severity of the tooth condition. For example, if you have cracked your front tooth, it may be advised that you get a crown to cover the tooth, whereas something more minor such as severe staining may only require a veneer to get your smile looking as good as new again.
It is always advised to ask your dentist or a dental cosmetic specialist what treatment will work best for you.
