Your smile is precious, and it deserves to be taken care of. This not only means practicing good oral hygiene, but also ensuring that you feel good about your smile! Unfortunately, many patients feel insecure about their smile, due to common imperfections like misalignments, chips, discoloration, and misshapen teeth. When looking to perfect your teeth, a variety of cosmetic options are available, two of the most common being veneers and crowns. However, when deciding what’s best for your smile, there are several factors to consider. If you’re stuck between using veneers vs. crowns for your smile makeover, visit Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL, to learn what these procedures can do for you!
Veneers vs. Crowns: The Design
Dental veneers differ significantly in structure from dental crowns.
Veneers are thin sheets of porcelain or ceramic that cover the front-facing enamel of your tooth. These tooth-colored shells are completely customizable, and you’re involved in the design process at every step!
During your initial consultation, you work with Dr. Havron to customize your smile. You give your input on the shape, size, and color of each veneer, designing your ideal smile!
Dental crowns, in contrast, are more structurally sound. Rather than covering only the front of your tooth (or what’s visible in your smile), crowns cover the entirety of your tooth. These tooth-shaped caps secure on top of broken or damaged teeth, restoring both the structural integrity and aesthetic of your smile.
Additionally, patients are rarely as involved in the dental crown design process, as lab technicians use 3D digital models to design your crowns to match and fit in among your remaining teeth.
Veneers vs. Crowns: The Procedure
The procedure between veneers and crowns is also quite different.
Dental veneers generally involve two appointments, not including your initial consultation. During your consultation, we’ll ensure that your smile is healthy enough for veneers, as they require a healthy base. Then, we create a custom treatment plan and schedule your procedural appointment.
At your appointment, we use a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Then, we gently scrape off the front-facing enamel to create room for your veneers to sit. This process is minimally invasive, and we provide temporary veneers to help maintain the aesthetics of your smile. With these temporary veneers, any changes you make to their design, we will reflect in the final version.
Once your final veneers arrive, we’ll try them on and make sure they fit beautifully. If you’re happy with your new appearance, we’ll bond the veneers in place to revitalize your smile’s look!
In comparison, crowns require a more invasive procedure, as they need more space!
Rather than only affecting the front of your smile, we need to shave down your tooth’s structure, removing enamel from all sides of your tooth. Once we prepare your tooth, we’ll fit a dental crown over the small structure that mimics the appearance of your surrounding teeth.
Often, dental crowns go over damaged or decayed teeth, as we remove the infection beforehand and use the crown as a protective cover. In many cases, we can complete the crown process in just one day! Using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology, we will design your crown for you, using a 3D digital model that allows our lab technicians to work quickly and efficiently. Then, using our innovative CEREC machine, we craft your custom crown and place it on your tooth with ease, cementing it in place.
Veneers vs. Crowns: The Results
After veneer treatment, patients like you find their smile revitalized!
Because you helped design your veneers, your smile is perfectly customized into its ideal shape, size, and color. Thanks to its less invasive process, veneers heal quickly, with most patients able to function normally in just a week or two! However, expect to feel some discomfort after the procedure. This pain is minimal and easily managed using over-the-counter medications.
To help your veneers last as long as possible, we recommend maintaining a rigorous oral hygiene routine and scheduling regular visits to Riviera Dental Care for check-ups. In many cases, we may suggest wearing a night guard to protect your veneers from teeth grinding, and avoiding excessive amounts of staining drinks like wine or coffee. While you don’t have to cut these out of your diet, it’s important to brush your teeth after consuming them.
Dental crowns help restore your smile’s function and aesthetics, fortifying your tooth’s structure.
However, their process is more invasive, which results in a longer healing period. After about 2 to 4 weeks of healing, your smile should be back to normal! However, you can expect to need over-the-counter pain medications to help make healing more comfortable.
With your crown in place, your smile should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. These tooth-shaped caps help to strengthen your tooth’s structure while blending in seamlessly with the rest of your smile. With proper care and maintenance, your same-day crowns can last 30 to 40 years, surpassing the typical lifespan of dental veneers (10 to 20 years).
Revitalize Your Smile in Foley, AL!
If you’re stuck between veneers vs. crowns, visit Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL! We help determine what your needs are and decide which method is best for your smile. While veneers focus more on the cosmetic enhancement of your smile, crowns help fortify your tooth’s structure.
Book an initial consultation today to learn which dental procedure is the right choice for you!
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