Crowns vs. Veneers: What’s the Difference?

What makes you unhappy or embarrassed about your teeth? Whether they're discolored, chipped, uneven, or missing (to name a few problems), a crown or veneer can renew your teeth and restore your beautiful smile.

While crowns and veneers can solve many of the same dental issues, their differences make each one the best choice for specific problems. Our TLN Family Dental team will examine your teeth, discuss your concerns, and recommend the right dental solution for you.

Read on to learn about the differences and similarities between crowns and veneers, so you can decide which smile restoration option suits your needs.

Crowns and veneers both look fabulous

Crown and veneers share three essential qualities: They’re strong, durable, and look fabulous. Both are made from materials that closely resemble your enamel and reflect the light beautifully just like natural teeth.  We craft them to fit your bite, match your other teeth perfectly, and blend in well with your facial esthetics. 

Crowns and veneers are structurally different

Structural design is the most significant difference between crowns and veneers. It affects how we use them and which teeth they can restore.

Dental crowns

Crowns are a “cap” that’s shaped just like a regular tooth. They completely cover an existing tooth and seal at the gumline. Or, we can use the crown to replace a missing tooth by anchoring it with an artificial root, or dental implant.

We can customize crowns to fit anywhere in your mouth, using them to cover or replace any tooth. They are specifically custom designed to fit each individual tooth for each individual person. There is no one size fits all. 

Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover the front of the tooth. They’re perfect for your front teeth and all the teeth that are visible when you smile, making them a popular choice for transforming your appearance. They can be a very conservative way of enhancing your smile. 

Though veneers can be used on molars, they won’t stand up to the extreme pressure of chewing as well as a crown. For this reason, we typically recommend a crown to take care of cosmetic or structural problems with your back teeth and veneers for enhancing the beauty of your front teeth. 

Both treatments deliver similar cosmetic results

You can dramatically improve the same cosmetic concerns with crowns and veneers. Both do an exceptional job of enhancing your appearance by: 

• Hiding stained or discolored teeth
• Concealing gaps between teeth
• Restoring or changing tooth size or shape
• Covering chips and cracks
• Strengthening eroded enamel
• Straightening slightly uneven teeth

Crowns and veneers can’t straighten teeth that are out of alignment. But if uneven teeth are a cosmetic problem that doesn’t affect your bite, they can be used to make your teeth look even.

Crowns are best for restoring function

Veneers can restore function to a certain extent. Bonding a veneer to a cracked or chipped tooth rebuilds its strength and prevents the damage from worsening. However they are typically reserved for improved esthetics. 

When it comes to restoring tooth function, crowns are by far more superior. Crowns provide optimal protection and strength because they cover the entire tooth. We can use crowns to:

• Preserve teeth with extensive decay
• Strengthen a tooth with a large filling
• Protect a weak tooth after a root canal
• Combine with an implant to replace a missing tooth
• Support and anchor a dental bridge

After a crown is in place, it’s as strong and functional as your natural teeth. It can even be stronger, depending on the materials used to create it.

Crowns and veneers follow a similar process

Both restorations require two trips to the office (unless you’re getting an implant-supported crown). During your first visit, we do an exam and take care of any dental work you may need by removing any bacteria trapped in the teeth. We want to be sure your teeth and gums are healthy before applying crowns or veneers.

Then, we prepare the tooth and take a digital scan. To prepare for veneers, we remove a thin layer of enamel on the front of the tooth or teeth we’re treating. This ensures the veneer bonds to the surface and creates enough space to fit evenly with the surrounding teeth.

If we’re placing a crown over an existing tooth, we remove some of the tooth, ensuring there’s enough space for the crown to fit properly. When your new restoration is ready, we schedule your second visit and permanently bond your crown or veneers to your teeth. 

If either veneers or crowns are being used to restore the front teeth, we begin with a diagnostic mock up on your teeth so that you can see how they will look before we begin. 

The implant-supported crown process

When using a crown to replace missing teeth, we use dental implants also known as root replacements. This procedure takes longer and requires an extra visit. You’ll need to wait for the bone to heal after we insert the implant. You return for the scan, then schedule your final visit when the crown is ready.

Learn how crowns and veneers can renew your smile

Ready to start your journey to a smile that you will love for a lifetime? We’re here to answer your questions, evaluate your teeth, and recommend the best dental solution. Call or click online to schedule a visit at your nearest TLN Family Dental office in Houston or Pearland, Texas, today. We can’t wait to become your forever dentist!