Are you interested in making your smile even more beautiful than it already is? Cosmetic dental crowns and dental veneers are a great solution! Santa Teresa Dental Center offers a range of cosmetic dentistry services in a luxurious environment. Call us today to schedule your appointment!
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers cover the front area of your teeth. When compared to crowns, they are simple and less complicated as the procedure leaves more of your original teeth.
A thin layer of your front tooth enamel is scraped off in order to roughen the surface for installing the veneer. Grinding the tooth surface is an important step in veneer installation, there are some types of veneers that don't require much grinding. Further, your dentist may recommend taking anesthetic for this treatment because tooth grinding can be a bit painful.
For veneers to work properly, your tooth surface should have enough enamel on it for proper bonding.
Steps Involved In Getting A Veneer
First, your dentist will make an impression or take measurements of your tooth by either using a mold or by means of digital scanning. The scanned image or mold will then be sent to a lab or your dentist will prepare the veneers in his own facility.
Depending upon the size of your trimmed tooth, a temporary veneer will be placed on it until the new one is prepared.
When the new veneer is ready, it will replace the temporary veneer. The new veneer will be bonded to the grounded tooth using a special bonding material or cement and will be hardened using a UV lamp.
Once a veneer is placed, there will be minimal movement of your tooth. However, your dentist may suggest you wearing a night guard to protect the veneer in case you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping.
What Are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown covers your entire tooth. In this procedure, more surface area of your tooth needs to be ground down in order to prepare it for the procedure.
If you have a decayed tooth, your dentist will first discard the decayed portion of your tooth before preparing the crown. In such a condition, your tooth has to build up a little to hold the crown. The same goes for the damaged tooth. Further, you might have to take a local anesthetic because the filing process is painful.
Steps Involved In Getting A Crown
First, your dentist will make an impression or take measurements of your tooth by either using a mold or by means of digital scanning. The scanned image or mold will then be sent to a lab or your dentist will prepare the veneers in his own facility.
Depending upon the size of your trimmed tooth, a temporary veneer will be placed on it until the new one is prepared. This is done so that you can use your tooth while the new one is getting prepared.
When the permanent crown is prepared, your dentist will replace the temporary crown with the permanent one. It will be adjusted according to the size of your tooth and will be bonded using special cement.
Crowned teeth may have some movement which can cause slight discomfort. If this happens with you, you can get your crown adjusted according to your bite-size.
Crowns Vs Veneers: How To Choose The Best Option For Yourself?
If your tooth has a root canal, huge filling, or is cracked or worn out, you can consider getting a crown.
If your tooth is intact and you want to get it restored mainly for a cosmetic purpose, a veneer is the option to go for. Further, veneers are also recommended for restoring an ill-shaped tooth.
Let's discuss this in more detail.
When To Consider Veneers?
Veneers are the best option when you want to address minor issues and need a cosmetic smile treatment. Veneers are perhaps the best solution for issues like chipped teeth, severely stained teeth, minor cracks, misaligned teeth, and small gaps between the teeth. In such cases, veneers are capable of improving the overall appearance, color, and alignment of the teeth, resulting in a beautiful and enhanced smile.
When To Consider Crowns?
Crowns are needed mostly to address the fundamental issues of your existing teeth. Some of these situations include cracked teeth, broken teeth, the teeth that require root canal treatment.
A dental crown is used to keep your tooth in place and protect it from further damage. Once the crown is placed, it becomes the shield of your natural tooth.
Another case where crowns are considered as a better choice instead of veneers is when the edges of teeth are damaged. Veneers can't be used in this condition because they only cover the surface of the tooth and not the edges. So, the tooth that is damaged by grinding, requires a crown treatment.
Dental crowns are an ideal treatment for the damaged teeth and significantly improve the shape and color of the original teeth.
Crowns Vs Veneers: How Much Do Each Treatment Cost?
Both crowns and veneers are expensive dental procedures. However, the cost of each can vary on the basis of the size of your teeth, the area where it is located, and the average cost of dental treatment in your area.
Know that a majority of dental insurance policies don't cover cosmetic treatment. Further, most plans come with a maximum yearly limit on coverage. A good idea is to check the insurance provider and determine what they'll cover.
Veneers
The average cost of a veneer treatment ranges from $925 to $2,500 per tooth. The composite veneers are cost-effective, they range from $250 to $1500 per tooth. On the other hand, Porcelain veneers are long-lasting but are expensive as well.
Crowns
The cost of getting dental crowns depends on the material of the crown, the size of the tooth and the preparation work required for it.
The average price of a crown ranges from $1,000 to $3,500 per tooth. This cost includes procedures such as root canals and core buildup.
Talking about the type of crown, ceramic and porcelain are more expensive than other types of crown.
Veneers Vs Crowns: Are There Any Ways To Save On The Dental Treatment?
Check if your dentist offers a payment plan or a budget. Ask him if you can pay for the treatment in the form of installments with little or no interest.
Dental cost varies from area to area. Check multiple dentists in your area to get the best treatment at a reasonable cost.
Also, if you live near a dental school or university, consider getting your treatment from the supervised dental students who can perform the crown or veneer procedure at a reduced cost.
Crowns Vs Veneers: Do They Require Maintenance?
If you want your veneers or crowns to last for longer, you should take proper care of them. A good amount of care will ensure that your crowns or veneers will last for more than a decade.
Generally, the porcelain crown and veneers are stain-resistant, but if you don't take enough care, they can get discolored. So, proper brushing and flossing at least twice a day is recommended.
Moreover, bleaching and whitening treatments are not meant for these kinds of dental procedures, so it is very important to follow good eating habits and maintain oral hygiene.
To protect the veneers or crowns, don't bite on hard food items and wear protective guards if you have a habit of clenching teeth at night.
Dental Veneers Vs Dental Crowns: Pros and Cons
Veneer Pros
- Veneers are more aesthetically appealing as compared to crowns because they don't show the gum margin after a few years like the crowns do.
- Veneers don't usually require a lot of filing or trimming. This means, more of your original tooth remains intact.
- Veneers cause minimum teeth movement.
Veneer Cons
- Veneers sometimes expose your tooth to decay.
- Composite veneers are cost-effective but they don't last for long. Other materials last for long but they're expensive.
- They aren't covered in most dental insurances.
Crown Pros
- Tooth remains protected from decay because it is entirely covered by the crown.
- Porcelain crowns mimic the natural teeth.
- You don't have to remove the crowns for cleaning or maintaining purposes because they are permanent.
- Some dental insurances cover the cost of dental crowns.
Crown Cons
- More part of your original tooth is trimmed or filed which sometimes causes a lot of pain.
- Dental crowns are sometimes more sensitive to cold and heat.
- Porcelain crowns are not that durable, they get damaged over time.
- PFM crowns show a dark gum line which doesn't look great.
That's all about dental veneers and crowns. Both treatments are best in teeth restoration. We have discussed the situations in which you need these treatments along with several other details you should know before going to your dentist. We hope it helps you in making an informed decision.
Are you convinced that dental veneers or dental crowns could beautify your smile? Call Santa Teresa Dental Center today to schedule your appointment! Se habla Español!