Choosing between veneers and crowns can determine your smile moving forward. Crowns are strong, but veneers are less intrusive and give a more natural look. Veneers help you keep more of the natural structure of your teeth while making them more refined and attractive. Dentists recommend them to patients who want a cosmetic upgrade without much alteration to their teeth. Their thin, custom-made design seamlessly blends with your natural enamel, giving your teeth a flawless but authentic look. Thus, veneers are ideal for improving your smile while keeping as much of your natural tooth as possible. The information below will help you understand why veneers are a good option. 

What are Veneers?

Veneers cover the front surface of the teeth, restoring a person’s smile. They are thin, custom-made shells made up of porcelain or composite resin. Veneers correct discoloration, chips, misalignment, and gaps to give a flawless, natural look.

The first step in veneer treatment is a dental evaluation to determine eligibility. A dentist removes an irreversible, very thin enamel layer to prepare the teeth. The dentist then takes impressions of the teeth so customized veneers can be prepared. While waiting for your permanent ones, you could have temporary veneers to shield your teeth.

Once ready, the dentist bonds the veneers to the teeth after ensuring they fit correctly and have a seamless color match. Porcelain veneers are more durable and stain-resistant, lasting 7 to 20 years with proper care. If you maintain good oral hygiene and do not indulge in bad dental habits, they can last a long time.

What are Crowns?

Crowns are strong shells that encase a damaged tooth or a dental implant. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, ceramic, or zirconia. Crowns can serve not only an aesthetic purpose but also a protective one. They are used on teeth that are decayed, broken, have large fillings, or have had root canals. A crown helps preserve and strengthen the tooth, improving its shape, size, and strength. Crowns also boost the appearance of the teeth and are made to mimic the real tooth’s color and shape. They serve as essential supports for dental bridges or dental implants.

Different crown materials offer unique advantages. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns are strong and good-looking. All ceramic or all-porcelain crowns perfectly match the crowns of the front teeth. However, there are metal crowns, including gold and alloy options. These crowns focus on strength but not visual appeal. Zirconia crowns are strong and the most aesthetically pleasing type of crown available. 

Crown procedures involve removing decay and shaping the tooth. Your dentist will make an impression to create a custom crown. While this happens, you will be fitted with a temporary crown while the permanent version is made. The final crown is adjusted for bite and comfort and cemented when ready.

With proper care, crowns can last 5 to 15 years, depending on the material chosen and your oral hygiene and wear. Regular visits to the dentist help maintain the crown, although they cannot prevent decay in the remaining tooth structure.

Why Choose Veneers Over Crowns for Cosmetic Dental Issues?

Veneers are often the better choice over crowns since they are often used for aesthetic reasons instead of structural ones. Here are the reasons you could look for veneers over crowns:

Conserving the Structure of Your Tooth

Veneers are a popular cosmetic option because they are a conservative form of restoration, making them an excellent choice for those who want cosmetic work without significant alterations to their natural teeth. 

Unlike crowns requiring extensive reshaping, veneers remove only small amounts of enamel. Usually, only the front of the tooth enamel is removed. This allows for a seamless bond with the tooth and maintains its integrity and naturalness. Veneers are perfect for dealing with problems like discoloration, slightly crooked teeth, small spaces, and more while keeping the tooth intact.

A significant advantage veneers offer is that they help improve the look of your smile with minimal intervention. Because they only reshape the front of the tooth, less of the tooth is lost. This is especially helpful for people who want to correct their cosmetic flaws while still maintaining the strength and toughness of their teeth. People whose teeth are generally healthy but still want to enhance their smile are excellent candidates for veneers. The minimal preparation process allows for a faster healing time and lesser pain after treatment compared to other procedures like using crowns.

The preparation of veneers can be expensive if the tooth needs a lot of reshaping or deep staining needs to be covered up. Even though veneers are less invasive than crowns, this variability underlines the importance of consulting your dentist to get the most out of your case. It is essential to tailor the treatment to each individual, as some patients may need more or less enamel removed, depending on their cosmetic concerns.

However, crowns need a much more aggressive preparation process. Crowns are generally used when deep decay, fractures, or extensive fillings have damaged teeth. You will need a crown if you have a root canal or a weak tooth. To prepare the tooth for a crown, the dentist will significantly modify the outer enamel portion of the tooth and possibly dentin. All this reshaping is done to strengthen and durability the crown. Crowns are excellent at giving strength and restoring function to damaged teeth but require much more alterations to your tooth’s natural form. 

Veneers are Ideal for Minor Dental Issues or for Patients Who are Only Looking for Cosmetic Changes

Veneers are a cosmetic solution for your smile that will not greatly improve your teeth. This makes them an ideal choice for anyone with minor dental concerns. Veneer solutions work great if you have the following:

  • Small gaps
  • Slightly out-of-place teeth
  • Irregularly shaped teeth

Veneers are made of materials like porcelain or composite resin that can be colored, translucent, and textured close to your teeth. One of the main benefits of veneers is that they can immediately improve your teeth' appearance. Orthodontics, on the other hand, can take months or years to give the same results.

Veneers can cover small chips or cracks. They are also helpful for teeth that are deeply stained or discolored and do not respond well to traditional whitening methods. By masking these flaws, veneers can provide a radiant, even smile that enhances confidence and creates a natural, fresh appearance. Because the process is usually quick and easy and causes little discomfort, veneers may appeal to someone looking for an efficient cosmetic solution.

On the other hand, crowns are required for significant fractures, including considerable decay after root canal treatment. Crowns provide support in these situations because they entirely cover and protect the weak tooth, thus restoring its strength. While veneers are mostly about aesthetic appearance, crowns are durable and will last through chewing and biting. This helps a tooth function as it should for a long time. When a tooth has become too weak for other treatments, like veneers, crowns are often the treatment of choice.

Veneers are Pocket Friendly

When considering the cost of the treatment, veneers are usually more affordable than crowns for cosmetic work. While both are not cheap, veneers are often the least expensive option, mainly when used to improve multiple teeth. 

Prices for porcelain veneers, which are popular due to their strength and natural see-through nature, typically range from $925 to $2,500 per tooth. Composite veneers are not as strong as porcelain ones. They cost about $250 to $1,500 per tooth. Veneers generally do not require extensive procedures or expenses like root canals, core buildups, or other restorations. In other words, crowns usually require more procedures and expenses than veneers do.

Because veneers are elective cosmetic procedures, dental insurance generally does not cover them. As a result, patients usually bear the entire expense. Though the cost can seem overwhelming, the predictable nature of the procedure, usually more straightforward and less invasive than crowns, can make budgeting more manageable. Numerous dental clinics provide financing options to ease the initial costs over time, allowing patients to pay for their veneers in installments instead of a lump sum.

On the other hand, crowns are a lot more expensive. Crowns typically cost between $1,000 and $3,500 per tooth, depending on the materials used and the complexity of the procedure. Crowns are necessary when the tooth is damaged, including decay, fractures, or a root canal. To fit the crown, the tooth often requires substantial preparation. This could include removing a significant portion of the enamel. Thus, the cost goes up. However, if a tooth needs significant structural reinforcement, you must get extra procedures like a root canal or core buildup. This will add to the cost. Furthermore, if you want crowns from multiple teeth, it will cost much more than veneers.

Most dental insurance may not cover the cost of veneers, but you can expect the cost of crowns to be partially covered. This is because crowns help dental professionals repair damaged teeth. Furthermore, crowns are a mix of cosmetic and functional treatments. Crowns usually get some insurance coverage because they are made to fix a tooth so it can work properly again. Even with this insurance coverage, crowns may still be expensive, meaning patients can incur high out-of-pocket costs. Though you could receive help from your insurance, the cost of crowns remains high since you may need additional work to prep the tooth.

Veneers are Less Sensitive and More Aesthetically Pleasing than Crowns

When it comes to cosmetic dental procedures, veneers usually look better and are less likely to become sensitive after the procedure than crowns. Veneers are made of porcelain or a composite resin. When preparing for veneers, only a little bit of the front of the tooth may be reshaped. Only a small part of the tooth is altered, which provides a more natural appearance and prevents as much sensitivity after treatment.

Crowns can significantly improve the look of a tooth in your smile but may not look quite as natural. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns may show a metal base at the gum line. This metal substructure can make the dental work appear less natural. Moreover, since crowns are more invasive on the tooth, particularly when you have the procedure on several teeth, they can look less natural.

Compared to crowns, veneers are usually less sensitive. Sculpting of the tooth is kept to a minimum, thus preserving the inner layers, which lessens sensitivity. Though some people experience sensitivity, that is because a bit of enamel is removed because of the thickness of the veneers. Usually, it is temporary. However, it is not as intense as what people feel with crowns. Crowns are more invasive and require tooth reduction, exposing more dentin and sensitivity risks. 

Veneers Offer Immediate Results

Regarding the time investment for dental cosmetic procedures, veneers offer a distinct advantage in delivering quicker results than crowns. The change for composite veneers can happen in one dental appointment. The dentist applies the composite material directly to your teeth, shaping it accordingly. You will immediately walk out with a new smile without laboratory fabrication or temporary covers.

Typically, you need two appointments for porcelain veneers:

  • One to prepare the teeth and take the impression 
  • The other is to put the custom veneers

However, recent technological advancements now allow for same-day porcelain veneers. Thanks to chairside technology, some dental offices can now design and place porcelain veneers in the same visit, significantly reducing the time you have to wait for your new smile.

In contrast, crowns typically require a longer timeline. During the first appointment, the dentist prepares the tooth, takes impressions for the permanent crown, and places a temporary crown. At least one more visit is required to cement the permanent crown. Moreover, it may take longer if root canal treatment or dental implant placement is required along with the crown. You may have to wait weeks or months to get the outcome.

Veneers Cause Less Allergic Reactions

Sensitivities and allergic reactions to dental materials can strongly influence your choice of veneers or crowns. Crowns usually contain metals like gold, palladium, or nickel that can trigger allergic reactions. If you suffer from sensitivities, crowns may not be ideal, as exposure to these materials might lead to gingival inflammation, contact dermatitis, and other adverse effects. 

On the other hand, veneers are usually made with porcelain or composite resin, which are biocompatible and less prone to causing allergic reactions. Because veneers are placed only on the front of the tooth, there is less chance of irritation or sensitivity as they will not be in direct contact with any oral tissues. If you have metal allergies, veneers could be a safer choice.

Customization also gives veneers an advantage. The dentist can choose some materials that avoid any allergic triggers. Veneers pose no risk of metal exposure, unlike crowns, which may have a metal substructure below the porcelain exterior. If your gums recede or the restoration wears down over time, metal parts of the crown might become exposed, triggering a reaction since some people may be allergic to metal. Veneers do not have that effect.

However, without a thorough evaluation, you should not choose veneers solely to avoid allergies. You might be allergic to other dental materials or procedures but not to the crown. Your dentists must review your medical and dental history. In some cases, allergy tests, like patch tests, can be helpful to confirm any allergies.

Veneers Pose Less Risk to the Tooth Pulp

to avoid any internal trauma with veneer treatment, a thin layer of enamel (less than a mm) will be removed from the front part of your tooth. This slight change means that the deeper layers, like the pulp with nerves and blood vessels, will not be affected. Veneers help reduce the likelihood of inflammation, infection, and root canals by leaving the pulp unharmed.

Unlike the veneer, the crown needs extensive reshaping to fit over the entire tooth. The procedure requires the removal of enamel and dentin from all sides, and it can expose the pulp or get dangerously very close to it. When drilling into teeth, the pulp gets irritated from drilling and pressure. If not, it remains exposed to bacteria. This may develop pulpitis. This painful condition may require root canal therapy.

In addition to preserving the structure, having only the front changed also preserves more strength of the tooth. Since veneers do not damage the tooth structure, they are more effective when compared to crowns. Crowns may weaken the tooth structure, as the considerable reduction can lead to complications later.

Find a Cosmetic Dentist Near Me

Choosing veneers rather than crowns as an elegant and efficient way to enhance your smile is a voice worth considering. Veneers offer a faster, less invasive way to achieve a beautiful smile without damaging your teeth and are stain-resistant. Sometimes, you could get same-day treatment with veneers, so you do not have to wait long to enjoy your dream smile. However, it is best to first talk with dentists to assess how best veneers can work for you. 

At Ganji Dental, we are ready to help. Contact us at 310-643-8045 to schedule your next visit. Join our growing list of satisfied clients in Hawthorne.