Porcelain crowns and veneers are two of the most popular dental treatments available.
These innovative techniques can help improve the appearance of your smile, but both are used in very different situations. Although both use highly lifelike porcelain that closely replicates the appearance of natural teeth, it’s most likely that one procedure will be more suitable for your situation than the other. Understanding how each work can be useful; when you see your dentist for treatment, you will understand what they are explaining and can ask more pertinent questions about each procedure.
Veneers
A porcelain veneer consists of a thin laminated shell of porcelain that is handcrafted to replace tooth enamel. It is fabricated to fit exactly over the outer surface of a front tooth that has been hand prepared by your dentist, who will remove a minimal amount of tooth structure to create enough room for the veneer. Because a veneer is typically 0.5 mm in thickness, your dentist only needs to remove a tiny amount of tooth structure to ensure the veneer looks fantastic.
Porcelain veneers are typically used as a cosmetic procedure as they can enhance the appearance of natural teeth and can restore teeth that have minor imperfections in their appearance. You might want to choose porcelain veneers if you have teeth that are discolored or stained and which won’t respond to a conventional tooth whitening treatment. Porcelain veneers are used to disguise the appearance of front teeth that you show when you smile or talk with others. They can be fitted onto upper and lower teeth.
Porcelain Dental Crowns
Porcelain crowns cap the entire tooth, so none of its original structure is visible. Because the crown covers the whole tooth, substantial preparation is needed to remove enough structure to make room for the crown.
Porcelain crowns can change the color and shape of the tooth, and the latest all-ceramic crowns look fantastic.
Porcelain crowns are used when a tooth is severely damaged. For example, if you have a tooth with significant tooth decay or which is severely chipped or cracked, or if you have a tooth that has received root canal therapy.
Crowning a tooth restores the missing tooth structure while veneers can enhance the appearance of natural teeth and can restore teeth that have minor imperfections.