Dental Crowns vs. Porcelain Veneers in Charlotte, NC

Dental Crowns and Porcelain Veneers Comparison: Which One is Better?

There are many ways to keep a smile bright and white. Many people invest in alignment treatments, others spend on cosmetic dentistry while some are just innately blessed with great teeth and maintain them by taking care of their oral hygiene. But, teeth do degrade with age, with diet and with lifestyle habits. And because of these things, there are chances of losing teeth or damaging them. The good thing about that is there are ways to restore that smile you love to wear. You can get crowns or veneers done to your teeth to cover chips, breaks, stains or weakening teeth. Or, check with your dentist if you can do both!

What are Crowns and Veneers?

Crowns are a type of dental restoration where teeth are made stronger by encircling an old tooth or a dental implant. It basically ‘caps’ the old tooth with a fabricated ‘tooth’ to make it look like a strong healthy natural tooth. Veneers on the other hand are thin custom-made films or shells set on the front surface of the teeth to protect it and improve their appearance. Both are designed to protect real teeth but also have very drastic difference in method, material and costs.

Dental Crowns vs. Porcelain Veneers

The golden question: what’s the difference between the two? If you have not consulted your dentist about the procedures, here’s the gist of how they are different from each other. Veneers are solely for aesthetic purposes only such as covering discoloration or a chip. Although the shells or films protects the surface of the teeth, it’s not as strong as a crown. Crowns also are for aesthetic purposes but they serve their ultimate purpose of strengthening teeth. Crowns are used to hold bridges (bridges gaps created by two or more teeth), protect weak or cracked teeth, cover dental implants, support a filled tooth or to cover a misshapen tooth. When it comes to material, both veneers and crowns can be made from porcelain. However, crowns have more choices between stainless steel, metal, ceramic or resin. Each material of course, come in different price ranges as well.

Veneer Procedure

Pertaining to the method or procedure of attachment, both procedures entails very meticulous steps to complete. They start with a diagnosis to confirm which procedure fits what you want and the condition of your teeth. After which an x-ray might be taken if you roots need to be checked. Our cosmetic dentists will tell you the necessary proceedings based on what procedure is best for you. If you’re taking the veneer route, a small layer of enamel has to be removed to make room for a natural looking shell. An impression is taken and sent to a dental laboratory for your veneers to be constructed. During the bonding, your veneers will first be compared to your actual teeth to make sure the size, shape and color provide proper coverage. You will then undergo teeth cleaning, polishing and etching to guarantee optimum bonding. The veneers are then cemented onto the surface of your teeth and strengthened. Excess cement are also removed and final adjustments are done if needed.

Crown Procedure

After an x-ray and determining if there are no root canal procedures needed, anesthesia is applied to the gum area to numb the filing process. The tooth receiving the crown then gets trimmed to make room for the cap. If a large portion of the tooth is already missing, our cosmetic dentist will fill them instead so that the cap has something to hold on to. Once the reshaping is done, you’ll get a dental impression either with putty or digitally. The impressions are then sent to the lab for construction. As soon as your crowns are ready and checked for proper fit, color and shape, they are then permanently cemented in place.

Costs

Crowns differ in price depending on the type of material used. All-porcelain crowns are more expensive than porcelain infuse to metal. Costs may vary depending on where you live, severity of your case and which material is used. Some insurance cover a portion of crown costs but we suggest you check with your provider (or avail of our VIP Dental Plans). As for veneers, the cost may also vary depending on which state you live in and the severity but our our dental staff at any of our locations surrounding the Charlotte area, can give you an estimate of what your procedure costs. Most insurances do not cover veneers since they are mainly of aesthetic purposes but again, we suggest you check with your dental insurnace provider or check with our VIP Dental Plans.

To Summarize…

Crowns and veneers both are able to restore your smile. The main concern lies in figuring out which one you really need. If you are not 100% sure, talk to our trusted cosmetic dentists for a second and third opinion. If you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist in Charlotte, NC, to service your dental crown and veneer needs, check out our Friendly Dental Group locations in South Park, Whitehall, University and Waverly. Or, you can visit our website to find a Friendly Dental Group location near you. Our team of highly trained doctors will give you the best treatment needed to restore your smile and help get your pearly whites back to their former glory. Book your appointment now!