Crowns Vs. Veneers: How Do They Differ?

Our smiles are the first thing anyone notices when we meet them, and if your smile is hampered due to dental issues, it could be traumatic. But dental science has advanced in leaps and bounds over the years, and now there are various ways to fix your teeth and restore or enhance your smile.

Two of the most popular tooth restorative options are crowns and veneers that can improve the functioning and appearance of your teeth. If you have broken, chipped, or stained front teeth, you can choose either option based on your requirement.

Since both dental crowns and veneers provide the same benefits, people often mistake them for being the same. But despite seemingly similar treatments, veneers and crowns differ mainly in their purpose, which would aid you in making decisions between the two.

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells (around 1 millimeter thick) made from resin composite or porcelain that resemble teeth. Your dentist will bind these to your teeth to enhance your smile. Dental veneers match your tooth color and are stain resistant. You might need these in one of the following cases:

• Your teeth have uneven space.
• Your teeth have irregular shapes.
• You have chipped or broken teeth.
• Your teeth are stained or dark in color.

What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is a cap used to cover your tooth completely. It is used if your teeth have major damage. If your dentist has suggested dental crowns for you, it is most likely due to the following reasons:

• To protect a tooth against decay or damage.
• To restore a broken, cracked, or worn tooth.
• To hold a dental bridge in place.
• To cover a discolored or severely damaged tooth.

Dental crowns are made from different materials, as described below:

• Metal – These are the strongest and last longest. Your dentist could make metallic crowns from gold, nickel, palladium, or chromium. 
• Porcelain fused to metal – In this type of crown, metal is the primary material with a porcelain overlay to give it a more natural look.
• Resin – Resin is cheaper than metal but wears down quicker than other types.
• Porcelain or ceramic – These have the most natural color and are the best option for most visible front teeth. 
• Pressed ceramic – These have a ceramic core and last longer than porcelain ceramic crowns.

Similarities Between Dental Crowns and Veneers

Both crowns and veneers can improve your smile and teeth functioning. 

• Crowns and veneers are used to restore damaged, crooked, discolored, chipped, or broken teeth.
• Both veneers and crowns are made to match the natural color of the rest of your teeth (except for all the metal ones.)
• Once the veneer or crown is applied, one can not tell the difference between the two as both have similar effects on your smile.
• The care involved is almost the same for both veneers and crowns, i.e., brush and floss them twice a day like the rest of your teeth.
• Both of them need you to visit your dentist regularly to check for restorations and professional cleaning.

Differences Between Dental Crowns and Veneers

The primary difference between veneers and dental crowns is the way they fit your teeth and why you need either.

• A dental crown covers your entire tooth, while a porcelain veneer bonds to just the surface of your tooth.
• Because of the way they are fitted, a veneer is more aesthetically pleasing than crows since less gum margin is seen through veneers.
• Veneers are only placed if you have a large portion of your teeth’ enamel intact, whereas crowns can be applied to any teeth.
• Crowns are around 2 millimeters thick, so they are almost twice as thick as veneers and are more permanent than veneers.
• You might need to replace veneers after a few years, but crowns might last for your entire life.
• Veneers are more suited for milder tooth repairs like discoloration, cracks, gaps, or minor misalignments. On the other hand, crowns can rectify major tooth damage, such as structural issues with teeth or a huge portion of teeth being broken or missing due to decay or other developmental delays.
• Crowns are more expensive than veneers due to their long-lasting capacity.

Dental crowns and veneers are not interchangeable. Whether you should get a dental crown or veneer depends on your specific dental conditions. Your dentist would recommend the best course of treatment based on your requirements.