In todays’ world, cosmetic dentistry procedures such as cosmetic dental bonding, cosmetic dentistry veneers and dental crowns have emerged rapidly. These procedures have proved to be some of the best ones to help enhance the overall appearance of one’s oral cavity. With a rapidly increasing market, their annual growth rate is expected to increase by 16% in the upcoming years.
Follow us through to explore the differences between dental crowns and cosmetic dentistry veneers while also discussing their pros, cons, and when to choose each. We will also discuss how cosmetic dental bonding and veneers are interrelated.
Veneers
With a survival rate of 91% in 20 years, cosmetic dentistry veneers are porcelain layers that bind to your teeth’s surface cover chips and broken or stained parts of your teeth. These are basically customized shells of tooth-colored resin that cover only the surface of the tooth. By doing so, they conceal all the imperfections of your teeth, including cracks and stains, thus contributing to an enhanced appearance.
With all of your cosmetic flaws hidden away by cosmetic dentistry veneers, you can put on a big smile anywhere you go.
Types
There are 2 major types of cosmetic dentistry veneers that play an important role in enhancing your appearance. These are:
- Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are durable and resemble teeth in accordance with their translucency. Before applying porcelain cosmetic dentistry veneers, your dentist might take off some enamel from your tooth to roughen the surface. After the surface is roughened, veneers are applied.
- Composite veneers: Composite veneers consist of a resin that resembles natural teeth as it is customized as per the color of your teeth. They are similar to cosmetic dental bonding. In cosmetic dental bonding, the resin is directly applied to the teeth after roughening its surface. The tooth colored resin, even though less expensive than porcelain, is not long-lasting.
Pros
- Cover imperfections: Veneers have the ability to give you a beautiful, flawless smile by covering your cosmetic imperfections. Just like cosmetic dental bonding, they are used to cover the cracks and other imperfections using resin or porcelain.
- Stain resistant: They are highly stain resistant and allow you to consume coffee and wine-like substances. However, you must be careful as excessive consumption might cause stains after some time.
- Preserve most of the tooth surface: In order to apply veneers, you need not remove a large surface, rather a small part of your enamel to roughen the surface of your tooth. This preserves most of the natural tooth surface.
Cons
- Irreversible: The process is irreversible and you must maintain good hygiene to preserve your veneers.
- Costly: They are costly as compared to other procedures, such as cosmetic dental bonding and crowns. You may as well go for insurance if you are in need of veneers.
- Sensitive: They can cause heightened sensitivity after it is applied to the teeth. However, it goes off within a few weeks or days.
Dental crowns
Dental crown works as a cap which is used to encase your tooth in order to re-strengthen it and restore its natural aesthetics.
Types
The types are as follow:
- Metal crowns: MAde up of different metals such as palladium, gold, chromium or nickel. They are used for long time use as they are long lasting and durable. They do not break or chip easily.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns (PFM): They are durable like metal and natural looking like porcelain. Dentists customize these crowns to be the exact color of your natural teeth.
- Pressed ceramic crowns: They have a harder core. Similar to porcelain fused to metal crowns, but have a ceramic core rather than a metal one.
- Resin crowns: Made out of resin and are a cost-effective solution to broken or chipped teeth. However, they are quite fragile and can be broken down easily as compared to the PFM ones.
Pros
- Durable: They do not break down easily and help restore weak and chipped off teeth.
- Long-lasting: With good oral care, they can last for many years.
Cons
- More tooth reshaping: unlike veneers, they require more preparation of the teeth. More enamel needs to be removed off of your tooth for crowns.
- Artificial look: They are not as natural looking as veneers.
- Costly: Like veneers, they can be costly depending upon the material used.
Veneers vs crowns
- Cost: veneers are more expensive as compared to crowns.
- Shape : Crown covers your entire tooth whereas veneers cover only the front surface.
- Purpose: Veneers are used for cosmetic dentistry reasons whereas crowns are required if a tooth needs replacement or is broken.
- Place: Veneers are bonded to the front teeth mostly whereas crowns any place where they are needed.
- Material: Veneers are made of porcelain or composite. Crowns are made with gold, zirconium, metal-porcelain and all-resin.
When to choose veneers?
Veneers are applied to teeth when one is in need of an enhanced appearance of his/her smile. Veneers are similar to cosmetic dental bonding, a process that enhances the appearance of your teeth. They are also used or applied in case of various other issues, including:
- Chips
- Cracks
- Gaps
- Stained teeth
When to choose Dental crowns?
Dental crowns have a purely functional purpose. They are only applied when there is damage done to teeth. Their main function is to restore a tooth’s function by giving it strength and durability. They are used when:
- The tooth is broken or decayed.
- You have had a root canal recently done.
- The tooth is weak and needs strength for chewing.
Conclusion
In coming to an end, we can conclude that veneers and crowns, both have contributed a lot to dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry veneers have given people a new hope for a better smile whereas crowns have provided us with a solution to weak teeth.
If you are in search of a good dental clinic to get veneers or crowns, look no further than Lycian Dental Clinic. We at Lycian Clinic offer you the best quality of dental crowns and veneers. So book your appointment today.