You may have different reasons for needing to cover a tooth. Maybe a tooth or several of them are wear due to dental issues and need to be re-stabilized before they get worse. Sometimes, patients just want to cover the flaws that hold them back from truly enjoying the natural smile they have. Either way, Dr. Sarah Pitarra has two options for you to reach your smile goals: dental crowns and porcelain veneers. If you’re considering both of these options as your next step in your dental health journey you may have some questions about how they compare. Don’t worry, Dr. Sarah Pitarra, is here to help you!
Differences between Dental Crowns and Porcelain Veneers
The main difference between these two dental procedures is the amount of natural tooth that they cover. When you receive a dental crown, you will get a dental restoration that typically covers the entire tooth. If you get porcelain veneers, this dental procedure will only cover over a tooth’s front surface (the visible portion when you smile).
All about Dental Crowns
Dental cowns are much thicker than porcelain veneers. But why? Here’s a few reasons why getting a dental crown is a little different than getting porcelain veneers.
Dental crown placement requires a significant amount of tooth trimming. When Dr. Pitarra prepares a tooth for a crown, it’s reduced in size and shape to receive the dental crown. The idea is, when the crown is cemented to your natural tooth, it becomes the new outside surface (That’s why a crown can be used to give a tooth a new color as well as a new shape.) Usually, your dentist won’t remove more than 2 millimeters of your natural tooth.
Reasons for a dental crown
Your dentist may recommend getting a crown if:
- You have a weakened tooth, usually due to decay.
- You have a cracked tooth.
- You have a tooth that has been severely worn down.
- You need to cover a tooth where there is a large filling and very little tooth structure remaining.
- You had a root canal.
- You need to anchor a dental bridge
- You have misshapen or discolored teeth.
- If you need a dental restoration for dental implants.
Learning about Porcelain Veneers
On the other hand, porcelain veneers are typically an elective treatment that patients are willing to undergo to correct flaws in their smile. Porcelain veneers are super thin shells created from high-quality, tooth colored dental materials that are bonded onto the front side of teeth. They’re generally about .5 to .6 mm thick. That’s about 1/2 the thickness of a dime or twice the thickness of an eggshell, so much less tooth structure is removed than with a crown.
Reasons for Porcealin Veneers
If you’re unhappy with your smile because of these imperfections, you may be the perfect candidate for porcelain veneers.
- Cracked teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Stained teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Unusually shaped teeth
- Short teeth
Contact the Office of Sarah Pitarra DDS
Many of our patients enjoy greater confidence in their smiles because of dental crowns or porcelain veneers. If you are unhappy with the aspects of your teeth, contact our office. We would be happy to schedule a consultation to discover which dental procedure is best for you!