Crowns vs Veneers pros and cons: Which Is Better

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Crowns vs Veneers pros and cons – The strength of a healthy, natural tooth is not comparable with anything in the body. However, a tooth may decay over time, or it might suffer some trauma that further may result in its partial/complete loss, or there may be some natural space or gaps between the teeth or the natural color of the teeth could be unpleasant. All these factors will need some solution, and fortunately, dentists have very good options to look after such teeth.

 

The two popular options for restoring such teeth are crowns and veneers Kyle. There is a lot of misconception about this concept between crowns and veneers. People have different opinions about them. So, let us go in a bit detail and understand the difference between them.

 

Crowns vs Veneers pros and cons

 

If you have lost 50%-60% of your tooth structure because of decay or trauma, usually there will not be enough of the natural tooth present to place a filling and restore the tooth. In this situation, we generally use the porcelain/other materials’ crown. A crown replaces all of the lost enamel. So, it is like replacing the tooth itself.

 

As we know that the enamel is the strongest substance in the body, and we know that once this enamel is damaged or lost, it means that the remaining part is the most delicate part of the tooth. So, there is more chance of tooth breakage and loss of the tooth. In such cases, when we do a crown we do have to remove at least 1-2 mm of the entire tooth or a particular surface to replace it with porcelain or other crown material so that porcelain/other material can become the new tooth enamel.

 

Well, what if somebody comes in for the cosmetic treatment and their teeth are actually sound. Maybe, they are slightly misshaped, or the color is a bit dark, or probably they are in the wrong positions. When we do porcelain veneers, we only change the very surface of the tooth. And now with the advanced technology in hand, we can get veneers size done in a roundabout 1 of the millions, which is extremely thin. So, the idea is to be as conservative as possible and remove the most minimal amount of the tooth to get the best cosmetic result.

 

There is also a new concept called contact lenses available nowadays, which are very small pieces of porcelain. So, someone who has got extremely sound teeth but has minor spaces or gaps and he/she want some minor changes to the tooth and get the desired results with minimal preparation or no preparation at all. In such instances, what we can do is to use the minimal preparation veneers that are ultra-thin, or use this contact lens pieces of porcelain to actually change the shape, position, or color of the tooth. Hence, we can say that the veneers are used mainly for cosmetic enhancement.

 

With the explanation above, it is clear that when the damage in a tooth is extensive, the crown is the only option to save the tooth because it returns strength to the tooth. And when the treatment is done to enhance the dental aesthetics, veneers are the choice because minimal intervention with the natural tooth is needed for its placement.

Both the treatment option takes a couple of weeks to get done. Therefore, time-wise both are the same.

 

So, let us divide them between the pros and cons of getting them done..

 

1)Pros of getting a crown done:

  • Strong and long-lasting
  • Can be budget-friendly as they are made up of various materials as per the
  • Protection from sensitivity.
  • After the root-canal procedure, it becomes the main support for the remaining tooth structure.
  • No need to worry about chewing forces when on crowns.
  • Any tooth (anterior/posterior) can be restored with a crown.
  • If the crown falls, it can be re-fixed without the need for replacement.

 Cons of getting a crown done:

  • Extensive tooth-preparation is needed.
  • Compared to dental veneers, the look is not very natural when placed on the front teeth.

 

 

2)Pros of getting dental veneer done:

  • Without extensive orthodontic treatment looks fantastic.
  • Gives an option for getting an instant smile makeover (Gives a perfect illusion of a beautiful natural smile).
  • Very conservative as they occur in extremely small size (less than one millimeter thick), they need very minimal tooth preparation.
  • Gives the perfect illusion of natural teeth.

 

Cons of getting veneer done:

  • If a veneer falls or breaks, it is not reversible. One needs to buy another.
  • They wear with time (longevity is comparatively less)
  • They often go with only those teeth that do not need to bear much-chewing force, such as upper and lower front teeth and some bicuspids.
  • One has to avoid biting or tearing packages and food items from veneered teeth. (because of weak strength)
  • Cannot be used for treating active decay in the front teeth.
  • [Some people think that the cost of these ultrathin pieces of porcelain is going to be less. Well, it is harder for dentists to do things like contact lenses or veneers over crowns because they are very difficult to handle and fix to the teeth. It is, therefore, much more difficult for the dentist and technician to create these small pieces of porcelain. Hence, they are quite expensive]

 

 

Often, veneers are not included in the insurance because they are used for elective procedures, which are not considered problematic to health. However, it is better to go with them if possible because it saves a big part of your tooth structure and in the long run is good for your tooth health. However, the need for both the procedures cannot be determined without a clinical assessment. Therefore, it is always advisable to get an assessment done and then decide what is the better choice for your teeth.