Dental Crowns vs. Veneers

Dental crowns and veneers are two similar procedures but there are a few differences in these two popular treatments. Our Clear Lake, Texas dentist can recommend which option is best for you depending on the condition of your teeth, and the appearance you’re hoping to achieve.

What Is A Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a restorative “cap” that completely covers your natural tooth in an effort to protect it from cracking or breaking. Crowns are commonly placed on weak teeth that have large areas of decay, old fillings, fractures, and previous root canal treatment.

Our dentist will prepare your tooth for the crown by reducing its thickness on all sides.  Once this is complete, we’ll take an impression of your tooth which is sent to a dental laboratory for their technicians to make your crown from hand. Crowns are custom-made and can be stained to match your natural teeth, so we’ll communicate to the lab which shade we want your new tooth to be.

Dental crowns can be made from a few different materials 一 the most common being porcelain, metal, or a mix of the two with an inner layer of metal and an outer layer of porcelain. Our dentist will determine which kind of material is best for you, depending on a few things such as which tooth it is, what part of your mouth it’s in, how strong your bite is, and if you grind your teeth.

What Is A Veneer?

Veneers also cover teeth but they only fit over the front of your tooth (the part you see) and slightly overlap the edges.

Veneers aren’t typically used to restore a tooth. Rather, they are a cosmetic treatment that is placed on front teeth to make your smile more aesthetically pleasing. For example, if you have deep, stubborn stains; chipped, jagged enamel; gapped or crooked teeth, then veneers can make a big difference in how your smile looks.

When we prep the tooth, we don’t remove as much enamel as we would for a crown.  We only prep a thin layer of the front and the biting edge. After doing so, we’ll take an impression and send it to the lab.

Veneers are typically made from porcelain since this is the most natural-looking material.  They can be custom stained, just like crowns.

Other Similarities of Crowns and Veneers

• Dental crowns and veneers last a long time, with the average time being about 20 years.
• Bleaching your teeth won’t affect the shade of these restorations. Once porcelain is stained, your crown or veneer will stay that color permanently.
• It typically takes 3-4 weeks for your case to come in from the lab, so in the meantime you’ll wear a temporary crown or veneer that we’ll make you at your initial appointment.
• Once your permanent caps have arrived at the office, you’ll return for a final visit. At this appointment we’ll remove the preliminary restoration and cement the final version in place with a very strong, long-lasting cement.

Long-Term Maintenance

Since these restorations are only coverings for your teeth and your natural tooth is still underneath, cavities can still occur. Having good home care will help ensure that your investment in your smile lasts as long as it should.  Also, regular checkups and cleanings will allow us to remove any lingering buildup which could eventually cause problems long-term.  Our Clear Lake dentist will perform a thorough intraoral exam to check the margin where the end of each cap meets the natural tooth 一 making sure there is a tight seal and no margins are open of have active decay. We’ll also take x-rays of your teeth that’ll show us more than what we can see when we look in your mouth during a visual exam.

The Best of Both Worlds

For a complete smile makeover, it’s common to place a combination of different restorations. This may be needed to achieve the look you’re after, while still protecting certain teeth that are damaged.  From the front of your smile, no one will ever know the difference between a crown or veneer.

Veneers vs. Crowns: Which Is The Better Option For You?

When you visit Rosas Family Dentistry in Clear Lake , TX our dentist will evaluate the teeth in question and give you a recommendation for treatment based on your specific needs and wants. We can restore your teeth with crowns, or give you the beautiful and attractive smile with veneers. Give us a call today.