What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells made with tooth-colored materials, usually porcelain or composite resin. They are designed to cover the front surface of teeth, masking underlying teeth flaws. Dentists use dental veneers in Calgary to improve teeth’ appearance by enhancing their shape, size, color, or alignment. Veneers are renowned cosmetic dentistry restorations and can help create a natural-looking, attractive smile.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are prosthetic devices that cover diseased or decayed enamels to restore their shape, size, strength, and appearance. They are also known as tooth caps and work by encasing the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gum line, providing protection and support.
Veneers Vs. Crowns: What Is the Difference?
PurposeVeneers are primarily for cosmetic purposes to enhance the appearance of teeth. They can address various aesthetic concerns, including teeth discoloration, chipped or worn teeth, misshapen teeth, uneven spacing, and minor misalignments.
Meanwhile, dental crowns in Calgary are used for both functional and cosmetic reasons. They can restore severely damaged or decayed teeth that cannot be effectively repaired with fillings or other restorative methods. Further, crowns can also improve the appearance of misshapen or discolored teeth, enhance the alignment of teeth, or as part of dental implant restorations.
- Types
There are two types of oral veneers: porcelain veneers and composite resin veneers. The porcelain ones are custom-made in a dental laboratory, providing a durable, stain-resistant, and natural-looking result. Composite resin veneers are directly applied and shaped on the teeth by the dentist and can be completed in a single visit.
Dental crowns have multiple types, depending on the materials used. The most popular are porcelain or ceramic crowns featuring tooth-colored materials. However, you can also get metal-based crowns with metals like gold or silver-colored metals. You may also consider porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns featuring a base of metal and porcelain overlaying it.
- Procedure
Getting veneers typically involves removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth’s front surface to create space for the veneers. The dentist will remove as much enamel as necessary to fit in a dental veneer.
On the other hand, getting a dental crown involves removing any decayed or damaged portions of the tooth, then reshaping it to accommodate the crown. Usually, dentists remove a substantial part of the tooth enamel so that a dental crown can encapsulate the whole tooth.
- Benefits
Dental veneers provide a natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing smile, improve tooth color and shape, and cover various cosmetic imperfections. Further, porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and can resist discoloration better than natural tooth enamel. They are also durable and can last for many years with proper care.
Dental crowns also offer several benefits, restoring damaged teeth’ strength, functionality, and natural appearance. Crowns allow you to bite, chew, and speak with ease while protecting weakened teeth from further damage or decay. Additionally, dental crowns can enhance the aesthetic appearance of your smile, as they can be color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Which Restorative Option Is Right For Me?
Deciding between veneers vs. crowns at Toothworks depends on several factors, including:
- The condition of your teeth
- The specific dental issue you want to address
- Your desired outcome
- The recommendation of your dentist in Northwest Calgary
A general comparison of veneers and crowns to help you choose well entails the following:
- The primary purpose of treatment – veneers are primarily for cosmetic enhancements, while crowns address oral function first before improving aesthetics. Therefore, they can be for both functional and cosmetic reasons.
- Tooth preparation – veneers entail minimal invasion involving the removal of enamel. More significant tooth reduction is required for crowns.
- Location of placement – veneers provide a natural-looking, aesthetic improvement to your teeth only from the front side. Crowns cover the entire tooth.
- Strength – crowns provide superior strength and protection to weakened or damaged teeth than dental veneers because of the surface area of coverage. Therefore, crowns can withstand greater biting forces and are more resistant to chipping or fracture compared to veneers.
