Cosmetic dental crowns and veneers can protect your teeth and rejuvenate your smile. Here, we explain the difference between dental crowns and veneers, and why you might choose either restorative treatment.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns, also known as cap veneers, are 2mm thick porcelain caps that fit over the entire tooth. Crowns are beneficial for protecting a tooth from decay, restoring a broken or chipped tooth, securing a dental bridge, or covering a dental implant. They can restore both the health of your teeth and the quality of your smile.
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are wafer-thin porcelain laminates fitted to the front surface of teeth. They’re typically used to improve the appearance of imperfections. For example, a dentist may fit veneers over crooked teeth to straighten them or address worn tooth enamel, chipped teeth, discolouration, and close any gaps between the teeth.
How Are Veneers Different From Crowns?
Although dental veneers and crowns are similar, they serve entirely different purposes. One or neither may be suitable for your teeth, but your dentist will always suggest the best option for you. Here are three differences between veneers and crowns to give you a better idea of why your dentist might recommend one.
1. Purpose
Dental veneers and cosmetic dental crowns improve the function and aesthetics of a tooth. However, where they differ is that crowns provide an additional level of protection for teeth that are more heavily damaged.
2. Preparation
Veneer prep vs crown prep differs considerably. Enamel is trimmed from the front of the tooth to create a surface for a dental veneer to adhere to, whereas a crown requires more of the tooth to be ground down to place the cap.
3. Reinforcement
As dental veneers are used on healthier teeth, no additional work is typically required. But damaged or decaying teeth that require a crown may need some extra reinforcement to ensure they can support the crown.
What Are The Benefits Of Crowns And Veneers?
There are definite benefits to having crowns and veneers fitted. Here are four of the main advantages:
1. Protect And Prevent
Dental crowns provide an invaluable extra layer of protection for damaged teeth. Crowns are beneficial for teeth that have tooth decay, large fillings or a root canal, helping to prevent any further damage.
2. Confident Smile
Dental veneers and crowns are especially effective at restoring the smiles of anyone with chipped, discoloured or less than straight teeth. Both can work wonders at boosting your confidence and self-esteem.
3. Strong And Durable
One of the many great things about crowns and veneers is that they’re strong and durable. So you can enjoy all the foods you love most, secure in the knowledge that your teeth are more than up to the challenge.
4. Natural Look
Our porcelain crowns and veneers are handmade by skilled ceramists and expertly colour matched to your teeth. The result is an entirely natural-looking tooth that blends in, which is especially important for front teeth crowns.
Can Veneers Go Over Crowns?
Veneers aren’t recommended for use on crowns. That’s because veneers don’t adhere as well to porcelain as they do to the enamel. Plus, grinding down a crown could cause it to break. Unfortunately, if there’s a cosmetic issue with a dental crown, such as a chip, a veneer isn’t the solution. Minor damage to a dental crown can sometimes be repaired using resin, but the only viable option is a replacement crown for more extensive issues.
Which Lasts Longer Crowns Or Veneers?
We should start by saying that no crown or veneer will last forever. Both will eventually need replacing, and that’s certainly worth bearing in mind. According to official studies, the average lifespan of porcelain dental crowns ranges from five to 15 years. Porcelain veneers have been shown to last for ten years on average but can last for 15-20 years. The longevity of crowns and veneers largely depends on the care and upkeep you give them.
How Much Does It Cost?
Ollie & Darsh can help you perfect your smile with dental crowns from £695 and dental veneers from £795. The final cost will vary depending on the size and condition of your tooth, and the complexity of the procedure. With interest-free finance on all our treatments, you can spread the cost of teeth capping (crowns) or veneers over 10, 12 or 24 months. It’s convenient and straightforward, making your dazzling new smile well within reach.
Veneers And Dental Crowns Dentist
Dental veneers and crowns are the perfect cosmetic treatments for rejuvenating your smile, with dental crowns providing an added layer of protection for damaged teeth. Within just a few appointments, you can have the type of healthy, confident smile that lights up a room. Our friendly and experienced team here at Ollie & Darsh is here to make sure you enjoy a first-class, life-changing experience that’s certainly worth smiling about.
For more information about dental crowns and dental veneers, or to book your free consultation, please contact us on 0151 236 6578.