Difference Between Crowns and Veneers

Damaged teeth can be a source of embarrassment for people. Especially in times like these when everyone has grown so conscious about his physical appearance and does so much to remain fit and healthy, it is natural to look towards cosmetic means to have a great denture to add to your personality. Two of the most popular tools in the hands of a dentist to restore the denture of someone who is troubled by broken or damaged teeth are dental crowns and veneers. Though traditionally it has been dental crowns that have been used by dental surgeons for such purposes, of late veneers have become very popular. If you are looking for an alternative for your broken tooth, it is better to know the differences between crowns and veneers.

Both a crown and a veneer are man made devices that are used to restore normal shape and whiteness to a damaged tooth. To make either a crown or a veneer, a mold of the tooth is taken and then doctors cover the broken or damaged tooth with either a crown or a veneer in a dental laboratory. For both, a dental adhesive is necessary to plant them on the tooth. Let us now move forward to the differences between a crown and veneer.

Crown covers the whole tooth whereas veneer covers the broken tooth from the outside or from where the world gets to see your tooth. Thus crowns are on the back side of the tooth also. Another notable difference is in the thickness of these devices. While veneers are about a millimeter thick, crowns are thicker and stand a hefty 2mm in thickness. Veneers are used from aesthetic sense as when the tooth has got discolored and a porcelain cover in the form of veneer is planted on the tooth. On the other hand, dental crowns are used from a structural point of view and are a better option for cases of broken or damaged tooth that looks ugly. They are also used to cover decayed tooth that cannot regain its normal health.

Being thicker, crowns are more suitable for cases tooth has become weak and needs support to withstand grinding movements while eating. It is also good for tooth that has decayed and is on the backside of the mouth and is not visible on smiling. However, tooth needs filing whether you get a crown or a veneer. More filing is needed in the case of a crown as it is thicker than a veneer. In any case, a dental surgeon is a better judge to decide on what suits your requirements better.