Are you looking for a way to enhance the look of a tooth while restoring its structure after sustaining damage? Your dentist can evaluate your smile and provide you with treatment that can accomplish these goals and will suit your unique dental needs.
Both dental crowns and porcelain veneers feature ceramic fixtures that attach to a tooth, boosting its look and its health. Though similar, these dental tools are built for different purposes and offer varying advantages to your oral health. Read on to learn about the procedure, benefits, and more of both of these dental treatments.
Restore Tooth Structure with Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a type of customized ceramic cap that a dentist builds to fit over a patient’s tooth. Once in place, it enhances the look of the tooth while also restoring its shape. It is a restorative dental tool, meaning a dentist specifically uses it to rebuild the structure of a damaged tooth.
A dentist can use it to replace lost enamel, repair dental injuries, treat advanced tooth decay, and more. And it has cosmetic benefits as well because a dentist can factor in aesthetic enhancement when making the crown for a gorgeous, secure, and natural-looking finish.
The dentist begins the treatment by scraping away a minute amount of enamel to make room for the crown. You receive a local anesthetic to ensure you stay comfortable during this process. Then the dentist places the crown over the tooth, using dental cement to seal it into place.
The durable material and adhesive ensure you can perform oral functions without worrying about harming your dental work. It can stay in place for fifteen years or longer with proper care. If the crown breaks or dislodges, call your dentist for emergency repair and replacement because the underlying tooth could be exposed and at risk of harm.
Smile Appearance Enhancement with Porcelain Veneers
A porcelain veneer differs from a crown in that it attaches to the front of a patient’s tooth, covering just this area rather than the entire tooth. Dentists also build these on a custom basis for each patient, but veneers are cosmetic dental tools. This means dentists employ them to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile.
But a dental veneer can improve oral health too. It can replace thinned enamel on this part of the tooth and simplify oral hygiene so that you will be less likely to develop dental problems.
The procedure for receiving veneers is similar to that of a dental crown. The dentist etches into the enamel to prepare the surface of the affected tooth. Then they use bonding material to adhere the veneer on the front of the tooth.
Like crowns, porcelain veneers will last for fifteen or more years on the tooth if you take care of your smile. But abnormally high pressures, like biting on hard items, could cause the veneer to break. Follow aftercare guidelines from your dentist to get the most out of this treatment.