Dental crowns or veneers, which option is best for you?

Patient sitting in the dental chair waiting for the dentist to treat her

Whenever a tooth or several teeth become cracked, chipped, damaged, or discolored, several cosmetic dental treatments can help restore your smile quickly and effectively.

Crowns and veneers are two of the most common cosmetic dental procedures used to restore the aesthetics of natural teeth. This article explains which options may be the best fit for you.

Definition of dental crown and veneer

Let’s start with the basics. First of all, what is a dental crown? A crown, also known as a dental cap, is a type of dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or the metal frame that will be placed on a dental implant. The crown restores the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance.

On the other hand, veneers, as mentioned in our previous blog entry, are thin, custom-made shells or layers made of a unique material, commonly composite or porcelain, placed over a tooth to improve the aesthetics of a smile and protect the tooth’s surface from damage.

Both dental crowns and veneers can achieve excellent results, but they are often confused as the same thing. These dental treatments are very different procedures with different applications.

To help you understand the differences between crowns and veneers, we have summarized the two dental treatments, explaining the procedure and recovery involved in each case and why you should consider one dental treatment over the other depending on your specific situation.

Differences between a dental crown and a veneer

Veneers:

Veneers are typically used for issues such as chipped or broken teeth, intrinsic discoloration that won’t respond to tooth whitening, and misalignment or gaps in teeth. A crown may be more appropriate if the tooth has significant damage or decay. For a veneer, your dentist at Meza will remove a small amount of enamel from the tooth—just enough to be able to place it.

Meza´s in-house world-class laboratory will manufacture a permanent custom veneer made especially for you and your physical features. A temporary veneer will be placed while the lab prepares your permanent veneer.

The time it takes to prepare your custom veneer depends on how many teeth will be covered. The lab can take approximately ten business days to prepare the veneers for a full mouth restoration. However, a single-tooth veneer may take as little as one business day.

The recovery period for veneer treatment is minimal to none. In the first 24 hours, you may experience numbness and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Otherwise, patients receiving a veneer can continue their daily routine directly after treatment.

To recap, here are some of the most common situations for using Veneers:

  • To restore a single tooth that may have been fractured or discolored
  • To restore multiple teeth for a full smile makeover
  • To close gaps between teeth
  • To improve the appearance of teeth when they have worn edges or appeared crooked

Veneers allow you to transform the aesthetics of your smile in a practical, non-invasive manner.

Crowns:

A dental crown fits over your entire tooth, right down to your gum line. It replaces the natural tooth’s outer surface and masks decay, cracks, or chips. Crowns are a long-lasting way to improve the look of your smile.

A crown may be better than a veneer when the tooth is damaged. These situations include teeth that are severely cracked or largely chipped, causing ongoing pain, or where a root canal treatment has already occurred.

In such cases, a crown will be used to keep the tooth intact and prevent it from any further damage, which could lead to an extraction becoming necessary.  Also, a crown may be used when large fillings are placed in a tooth.

Crowns are designed to match the appearance of surrounding teeth and generally improve the appearance of your smile and its masticatory functions.

Here are some uses for Dental Crowns:

  • To protect a tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
  • To protect a tooth after a root canal treatment.
  • To restore a broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down.
  • To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there aren’t a lot of teeth left
  • To hold a dental bridge in place.
  • To cover severely discolored or crooked teeth.
  • To be placed on top of a dental implant.

If you’re considering cosmetic treatment in Costa Rica, such as crowns or veneers, consult with one of our experienced dentists at Meza Dental.

We offer a full range of cosmetic dentistry options. Contact us for a free estimate, and we’ll formulate a treatment plan that’s just right for you.

 

Learn More About Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr Alberto Meza, CEO and founder of Meza Dental Care

Article written by Dr. Alberto Meza

Dr. Meza provides patients with valuable insights and expert guidance to help them achieve optimal dental well-being.

His commitment to delivering high-quality care and staying updated on the latest dental advancements makes him a trusted source for comprehensive dental solutions.

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