If you’re trying to understand the difference between veneers vs crowns, a helpful hint is to remember that dental crowns are dental restorations and dental veneers are cosmetic. If you would like to improve the appearance of your smile, veneers would suit your needs. If you need to repair a badly damaged or decayed tooth, a dental crown or cap will be recommended. Let’s take a look at the major differences between veneers vs crowns.
Veneers Vs Crowns: What’s The Difference?
Dental veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain (or sometimes composite resin) that are bonded to the front of your teeth. They are only about 1mm thick. By contrast, dental crowns cover the entire tooth and are about 2mm thick.
Do You Need A Dental Restoration Or Cosmetic Dentistry?
If your need is to restore the function of a tooth, then a dental crown will be required. If your intention is to have a smile makeover and change the appearance of your teeth, then dental veneers will be required.
Do any of the following criteria apply to you:
- You have a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed
- You need to restore a large piece of your tooth in order to be able to bite and chew
- You have had a dental implant.
- You have had root canal therapy
If so, then your dentist will likely recommend a crown. Read more here.
Do any of the following criteria apply to you:
- You have small teeth that create gaps when you smile
- You have discoloured or stained teeth that do not respond to teeth whitening
- You have surface cracks or chips in your teeth
- Your teeth are irregularly shaped and you want to create symmetry
If you answered yes to any of these, you probably would benefit from veneers.
Veneers Vs Crowns: What Do They Cost?
Dental veneers can be created out of porcelain or composite resin, with the former being the more expensive option. Because they fall under cosmetic dentistry and are elective, your private health insurance will not cover the cost.
Dental crowns are restorative in nature and thus are covered by health insurance (of course this is dependent on your plan and inclusions). They can also be crafted from different materials but porcelain and ceramic are the most popular.
What Is The Turn-around?
Remember, if you need a dental restoration you should not delay treatment because dental decay will advance and you run the risk of losing more of your tooth structure. While it may take some time to create a porcelain crown, your dentist will make a temporary restoration for you to wear until it is ready. Dental crowns protect your teeth from future decay as they cover the entire tooth.
Dental veneers do not have to be done immediately, and are usually completed in two to three visits to your dentist.
If you still have questions about veneers vs crowns, the next step is to chat to your dentist during a consultation. Please contact us for a personalised approach: (07) 3185 2387.
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