Full Coverage Crowns vs Veneers
The world of dental treatments is vast and varied. As a result, some options are often confused. This is the case with the placement of Dental Veneers or Dental Crowns. It is true that they are different treatments with specific indications, but they are also similar in some aspects, such as their ability to restore a harmonious smile. So, it is normal to ask yourself: “What is the best option?”, “What are Veneers and in what cases are they used?” or even “When should I have a Crown placed?”.
What is dental veneer treatment?
Placing Veneers is like applying a very thin coating to your teeth, covering their most external and visible part. The function of these structures is to disguise or hide certain obvious details of the teeth and give them new characteristics. Therefore, the main reason for placing Dental Veneers is aesthetic, in the vast majority of cases.
This treatment can be carried out using products made from a variety of materials – the most common are ceramic and composite resin, which vary in their coverage capacity and durability.
In what cases are Dental Veneers used?
Given its function of camouflaging dental defects, this treatment is recommended for those looking to improve the aesthetics and appearance of their smile and have uniform teeth. In this sense, it can be used in cases of:
- Chips or wear on teeth;
- Differences in size of teeth;
- Spaces between teeth;
- Slight misalignments of the teeth;
- Stains or changes in the shade of tooth enamel.
However, there are some conditions for carrying out treatment with Dental Veneers: the teeth where the coverings will be placed must be intact and healthy, so that they can support them efficiently.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of treatment with Dental Veneers?
By improving the smile, this treatment has a strong and positive impact on the self-esteem of any patient. Furthermore, the process of placing Dental Veneers is minimally invasive and relatively simple to perform, from the assessment to the preparation of the coatings in the laboratory, to their placement.
But there are other advantages of Veneers:
- They provide a natural result, as they imitate the particularities of the teeth;
- They are resistant, allowing a normal life without limitations;
- They last a long time, keeping the result unchanged for decades;
- They leave the tooth intact, as they require minimal wear of the enamel;
- They reinforce the tooth structure by covering it.
On the other hand, the main disadvantage is that, in most cases, several Veneers are necessary for a uniform result, which ends up making the treatment more expensive.
What does Dental Crown treatment consist of?
Unlike Veneers, which cover only part of the teeth, Full-Coverage Dental Crowns are used to replace the entire tooth. This is why they are known as full-coverage solutions. They are placed over a damaged natural tooth or over a Dental Implant when there is no tooth. Therefore, as it allows the restoration of a complete set of teeth, the main function of this treatment is rehabilitative. In other words, the objective is to restore the functionality of the mouth, especially with regard to chewing.
In what cases does it make sense to place Dental Crowns?
Since they are used to restore teeth, crowns are reserved for cases where there is irreversible damage to the teeth, such as fractures or intense wear . For the same reason, they can also be used when there are missing teeth.
For this reason, unlike what happens with Dental Veneers, good dental condition is no longer a requirement for this treatment. However, general oral health is required to ensure the Crown remains in place for as long as possible.
What are the advantages or disadvantages of full-coverage dental crowns?
Treatment with Dental Crowns to replace one or more teeth has some advantages, such as:
- It benefits oral health by allowing continuous dentition, which facilitates hygiene and eliminates spaces that are prone to the accumulation of bacteria;
- Prevents further wear or fractures on other teeth by standardizing the forces applied to them;
- Provides long-lasting results, as the Crowns function like normal teeth;
- It can cover a variety of needs, from the loss of a single tooth to more extensive losses.
- The disadvantages, compared to Veneers, are that they are more invasive and require greater tooth wear.
Now that you know that Veneers have an aesthetic function and Crowns have a rehabilitative function, it is easy to understand that the best option depends on the problem to be treated. Only a dentist can give this recommendation, through a careful evaluation. Contact us today to make an appointment!