Veneers and crowns perform different functions, and both are useful treatments. For example, porcelain veneers in Newcastle are primarily used to improve the appearance of teeth and are a very popular cosmetic dental treatment. In comparison, dental crowns are often used as a restorative treatment, although they can also improve the appearance of a tooth.
What Is a Veneer and When to Choose This Treatment?
A veneer is a very thin shell of strong, durable porcelain covering the front surface of a tooth. Treatment can be useful if you have a tooth that is too small, worn, chipped or cracked, or not quite the right shape. Veneers can also be used to close or reduce the size of spaces between teeth. Sometimes we may suggest veneers to whiten their teeth and especially when some teeth are internally stained. These teeth will not respond well to a conventional teeth whitening treatment, so covering them with veneers is a good option.
What Is a Crown and When to Choose This Treatment?
In comparison, a crown in Clarington covers the entire tooth, so you cannot see any of the tooth’s original structure. It’s sometimes called a cap because it caps a tooth and is useful when it is more severely damaged. For example, our dentist may suggest a crown if you have a severely infected and decayed tooth and where the damage is too great to restore the tooth with an ordinary filling. Often, crowns are used to restore teeth after root canal therapy, and we also provide implant crowns that cover an implant post.
Because the crown covers the entire tooth, it restores the shape, size, and appearance of the tooth or will improve on the original appearance. Once the crown is in place, you can bite and chew comfortably and confidently, and it restores your smile. Our crowns are made from durable, beautiful porcelain in a shade that closely matches your natural teeth, and that is strong enough to use anywhere in the mouth.
What Is the Procedure for Having Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers in Courtice are minimally invasive, but it is usually necessary to remove some tooth enamel from the surface to be veneered. Removing a minimal amount of tooth enamel ensures the new veneer will look and feel natural as otherwise, it could feel too big and bulky. Therefore tooth preparation is usually carried out using a local anesthetic to ensure you are comfortable. Once teeth are prepared, they are scanned with our 3-D digital impression system, a process that eliminates the need for an uncomfortable mouth tray impression. Also, a digital impression is extremely accurate, ensuring you receive a precision fitted veneer. The veneer is then made to our exact specifications, and once it is ready, we can try it in and bond it permanently onto the tooth.
What Is the Procedure for Having Porcelain Crowns?
The procedure for having a porcelain crown is similar, but we need to remove more tooth structure to create enough room for the porcelain crown, and the process is carried out using a local anesthetic. Again, our dentists will carefully shape the tooth before taking a 3-D digital impression, ensuring you receive a precision fitted restoration. This is extremely important because the better a restoration fits, the more tightly it will seal the tooth, preventing harmful bacteria from getting underneath the crown. Then, when the crown is ready, we can try it in, make any small adjustments if needed and cement it firmly in place.
With the proper care, your new porcelain crown or veneer should last for many years, provided you practice a good daily oral care routine and visit West Bowmanville Family Dental regularly for checkups and cleanings.