Whether you have structural or cosmetic concerns in your smile, your dentist can find the right treatment to reach your oral health goals. The dentist will evaluate the current state of your smile and consider your medical history and desired results to learn which dental fixture can give you the smile of your dreams.
Both dental crowns and porcelain veneers will attach to your teeth and improve their appearance and health. But dentists utilize them in differing ways. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between these two dental fixtures and their procedures.
Restoring Dental Structure with Crowns
A dental crown is a custom-made ceramic cap that a dentist will secure over a tooth that requires durable structural repair. If you have broken a tooth or suffered excessive damage to your enamel, your dentist will likely recommend this treatment for you.
To give you this restorative dental fixture, a dentist must shave away a minute amount of your enamel to make room for the cap. They will give you a local anesthetic to ensure you remain comfortable during this process. Then they use dental cement to keep the crown in place over the tooth.
It will replace weakened enamel, creating a protective shield over the tooth so that it is safe from further harm. It also reshapes the structure, boosting its appearance. Since it is custom-made, patients can feel confident that it will fit properly as well as look both natural and gorgeous in their smiles.
The cement and durable ceramic material ensure the crown will stay in place for fifteen years or longer. But you will need to take care of your smile, steering clear of abnormal pressures, to avoid breaking the fixture. Continue seeing your dentist for regular check-ups to get the most out of your dental crown.
Enhancing Smile Appearance with Veneers
Porcelain veneers are similar fixtures to dental crowns. But they resemble shells and attach to the front of a tooth rather than cover the entire tooth. While crowns serve restorative purposes, veneers are cosmetic dental tools, designed to improve the look of the teeth primarily.
Like crowns, veneers are custom-made to look stunning and natural in the patient’s mouth. When ready, the dentist must etch into the enamel, offering a local anesthetic, to prepare the teeth’s surface. Then the dentist uses dental bonding to attach the veneers to the front of the teeth.
They will address cosmetic concerns in the smile, making it look brighter and straighter. But they can also serve as enamel replacements for this portion of the tooth. The veneer will shield the front part of the tooth, offering some restorative advantages in this way.
The porcelain material and bonding offer long-lasting benefits for the patient that can endure for fifteen years with good maintenance. Veneers will resist staining, like crowns. But for them to look and feel their best, you will need to stick to healthy oral hygiene habits to care for the rest of your mouth. Veneers are not indestructible either, so be careful when biting on hard-textured items.