If you are self-conscious about imperfections in your teeth, porcelain veneers and dental crowns are both highly effective tools to transform your smile. However, veneers and crowns are used for different types of dental issues.
About Porcelain Veneers
A relatively new innovation in cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers have become widely used for a variety of minor problems with the surface appearance of the teeth. Veneers are very thin shells, and when affixed to the teeth they become strong and durable, performing in a similar way to natural enamel. Veneers even look much like natural enamel, because they are semi-translucent like enamel and reflect light in the same way.
Veneers are minimally invasive and can treat several minor problems including:
- Chipping
- Cracked teeth
- Severe discoloration
- Minor gaps
- Minor misalignment
Veneers are custom made and color-matched to your natural teeth. If cared for properly, they can last many years.
About Dental Crowns
Dental crowns require much more restructuring of the underlying tooth than porcelain veneers. Before placing a dental crown, the dentist grinds the tooth down to a peg that will support the crown. A dental crown can be made from metal, usually gold, or from porcelain. The porcelain used for a dental crown is more opaque than a veneer, reducing the translucence of the porcelain, but it still looks very much like a natural tooth.
Dental crowns are used for more severe problems than porcelain veneers, including:
- Severely cracked teeth
- Severe tooth damage or trauma, such as that caused by injury
- Root canal
A cosmetic dentist with experience with both veneers and crowns can help you decide which is best to correct your specific problems, as well as recommend a porcelain or metal dental crown depending on the circumstances.
If you are in the San Diego area and would like to find out more about porcelain veneers and dental crowns, please visit the website of Dr. Mary Walsh-Cole, San Diego, Encinitas and Carlsbad, California area cosmetic dentist.