What is better – veneers or crowns? It’s a question Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center often hears in our Chicago and Deerfield locations. Both are terrific options for people wanting to enhance their smile, but you should know the differences before deciding.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are a permanent procedure in which a dentist applies a thin “sheet” of tooth-colored filling material (typically composite resin or ceramic) to a patient’s tooth or teeth. Before application, the dentist removes a small amount of enamel in order to strengthen the tooth-veneer bond. When the veneer is set in place, a noticeable improvement is seen in both color and shape of the targeted teeth.
Why Get Veneers?
Veneers near Lakeview, Chicago offer a comprehensive solution for remedying the oral flaws that detract from a patient’s smile: discoloration, gaps, misalignments, and chipped/broken teeth. The two most common veneer types are:
Direct veneer: made of composite resin and directly applied to your teeth by the dentist
Indirect veneer: comprised of either resin or porcelain and created offsite (i.e. a dental lab). Resin’s advantage is that it’s less noticeable to the patient, and it’s easier to apply. On the other hand, porcelain is better at covering stains.
Whereas an indirect veneer procedure can be accomplished in just two visits to our Deerfield dentist, the direct veneer process is more time-consuming. Also, indirect veneers are on the whole more reliable in terms of delivering satisfactory results.
What Are Dental Crowns?
The purpose of dental crowns near Deerfield is twofold: from a cosmetic standpoint, they conceal any damage/discoloration affecting a patient’s teeth. They also strengthen the teeth, which benefits the patient’s oral health. A dental crown is identical in shape and color to natural teeth, and therefore unnoticeable when put in place.
Why Get Dental Crowns?
As the years pass, it’s common for a person’s smile to change due to cracked fillings, teeth grinding, tooth decay, and the natural aging process. When a filling isn’t an option for improving the affected teeth, a dental crown is an excellent solution for alleviating any damage and restoring a patient’s smile.
Dental crowns come in three different varieties:
- Gold: superior strength and durability makes gold crowns ideal for the larger, harder-working back teeth
- Porcelain: often used to repair front/visible teeth because of their ability to duplicate the appearance of natural teeth
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: this versatile option for a dental crown near Lakeview is usable anywhere in the mouth, offering looks and robustness
Which Solution Should You Choose?
We’ve established that crowns and veneers are each effective solutions for people wanting to improve their smile. So which one should you choose? Generally speaking, veneers last longer than crowns, and are less expensive. However, crowns offer the added advantage of helping repair damaged teeth and thus are much more likely to be covered by insurance. In most cases veneers are considered as strictly a cosmetic procedure, and therefore not eligible for insurance. This confirms crowns as the better choice for patients wanting to boost their smile while simultaneously treating a tooth issue. Meanwhile, patients whose needs are more cosmetically-oriented would probably benefit more from veneers.
Our North Shore and Chicago Dentists Will Help You Decide
The choice of veneers or crowns is one that our local dentists have helped hundreds of patients make. Contact our Deerfield or Chicago dentists today and take the first step towards bettering your smile and oral health.