Both dental crowns and veneers are restorative dental methods that improve the look and functionality of teeth, but if you’re faced with a straight choice between dental crowns vs veneers, which is best?
To answer this question, it’s essential to first look at the key differences. So let’s do that.
A dental crown is around 2mm thick and resembles a tooth cap. It can be made from various materials, including porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), all-porcelain, or a porcelain metal alloy, and is designed to cover or cap the whole tooth.
Conversely, dental veneers are thin 1mm thick, shell-like creations made from porcelain and designed to cover the front surface of the tooth only. Except for all-metal dental crowns, both are custom-designed and colour-matched to blend seamlessly within your existing smile line. Perhaps, more importantly, both veneers and crowns boast high success rates.
Understanding what they are and how they differ can help you in your quest to choose between crowns vs veneers. However, that still doesn’t answer whether a specific treatment is better (or worse) for you.
Naturally, whether veneers vs crowns are right depends upon the condition of your teeth and the complexity of your case – in other words, the type of problem you’re looking to fix. Common conditions for restoration include:
- Weakened or decayed teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Broken, cracked, or chipped teeth and
- Discoloured or blemished teeth
So, I guess the question is, ‘what’s better at fixing what?’
Dental crowns
Dental crowns should be the restoration of choice if you have a badly cracked or worn tooth, have large cavities, or need a root canal.
Why? Because these dental conditions are more than just cosmetic, dental crowns provide greater protection as they cover the whole tooth.
What about dental veneers?
Dental veneers should fit the bill better if a tooth remains relatively intact or requires slight cosmetic adjustments or minor shape corrections.
So, when it comes to veneers vs crowns, one way to remember is that dental veneers are best for minor cosmetic changes such as
- blemished or discoloured teeth
- teeth with slight cracking or chipping
- irregularly sized teeth and even
- irregular teeth spacing.
while dental crowns are more suited for major dental issues – in other words, pretty much everything else.
What about the costs of crowns vs veneers?
Another factor that can help you in the crowns vs veneers debate is treatment costs. Naturally, this would depend upon the type of dental veneers (porcelain vs composite) and the type of dental crowns, PFM, all-porcelain, etc. But as a rough ball-park figure, you can expect to pay between $1100 to $2000 depending upon the crown type. In contrast, veneers start from as little as $450 for composite bonding treatment up to $1800 for a single porcelain veneer. As you can see, dental crowns typically cost more, but do they last longer?
Crowns vs veneers longevity
Dental crowns can last for several decades with the correct care, but with extreme care, porcelain dental veneers are getting close to that, lasting up to 15 years. So there really isn’t too much in it.
But here’s the thing, contemporary veneers don’t require a lot of teeth trimming, and in cases where dentists use no-prep veneers, there is no trimming at all. So most of the natural tooth remains intact. This may be an important factor when comparing veneers vs crowns. Why?
Because traditionally, dental crowns require a large percentage of the problem tooth to be ground down to accommodate the restoration. The technical term for this process is enameloplasty or occlusal equilibration. In fact, that figure is typically somewhere between 60 and 70 per cent. So while dental crowns may last longer, you will always need a dental crown to protect the tooth underneath. Alternatively, as technology and veneer designs improve, patients will require minimal (if any) tooth preparation.
What about aesthetics?
What about aesthetics?We’ve already alluded to the fact that, aesthetically, there isn’t much between veneers vs crowns, initially, but what about the long term?
After several years dental crowns have been known to show the gum margin, and if you opt for porcelain-fused-with-metal (PFM), you may also begin to see the metal through the porcelain outer shell. On the contrary, quality dental veneers are designed to remain natural looking throughout their lifespan.
And finally, comfort?
In the crowns vs veneers contest, one major point that needs investigation is comfort. Wear and tear are common problems with dental crowns and can cause them to shift when we bite and chew, particularly after being in the mouth for some while. When a dental crown moves, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable or bulky. On the contrary, dental veneers should never move once cemented onto the tooth’s front surface. They remain a permanent non-movable fixture in the mouth unless they break, chip, or are ready for replacement.
If you are considering undergoing a dental restoration and want to know more about crowns vs veneers, or you have already been looking into veneers vs crowns and are ready to book a smile consultation, contact the experienced team at Sydney Laser Dental care. We currently have some great offers on beautiful custom-dental veneers that can instantly transform a smile, so get in touch and book your consultation today.
Pyrmont: (02) 9158 6213
Illawong: (02) 9158 6756
Sylvania Waters: (02) 9159 6083
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
European Journal of Dentistry – Survival Rates For Porcelain Laminate Veneers – A Systematic Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8184312/#:~:text=Main%20Outcomes%20of%20the%20Studies&text=The%20overall%20survival%20rate%20ranged,the%20included%20long%2Dterm%20trials.
Pub Med.Gov – A systematic Review Of The Survival And Complication Rates of all-ceramic and metal-ceramic reconstructions After an Observation Period Of At Least 3 Years
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17594372
Jamie, The Dentist – How much do crowns cost?
https://jamiethedentist.com/dental-crowns/costs
Finder.com – Cost of Veneers
https://www.finder.com.au/cost-of-veneers
Healthline – What Are No Prep Veneers?
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/no-prep-veneers
Pocket Dentistry.com – Occlusal Adjustment and Equilibration
https://pocketdentistry.com/11-occlusal-adjustment-and-equilibration
Healthline.com – How Long Does A Crown Replacement Last – Warning Signs
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-a-crown-last#replacement-warning-signs
New Mouth – Dental Crowns and How Long They Last
https://www.newmouth.com/oral-health/loose-crown
