If you hope to enhance your smile’s appearance while protecting your teeth, your dentist can recommend several different treatments that could help, depending on your unique dental needs. Both porcelain veneers and dental crowns offer long-lasting dental benefits while shielding vulnerable teeth.
However, these procedures vary from each other significantly. Dr. Robert Gauthier, a dentist practicing in Northborough, MA, describes two key differences between porcelain veneers and dental crowns.
Differences Between Porcelain Veneers and Dental Crowns
Intended Purpose of Dental Treatment
Porcelain veneers and dental crowns offer similar benefits on the surface, as they both cover your teeth to provide oral health benefits. However, their designed purposes are quite different.
Veneers function as a cosmetic dental treatment. Primarily, these fixtures cover teeth to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile. They can boost oral health in many ways, but their main goal is to create a whiter, more even look for a dental patient.
On the other hand, dental crowns can also enhance the appearance of teeth, but they are classified as a restorative dental treatment. Dentists usually recommend crowns for patients who need to cover and protect a damaged tooth so that it will not experience further dental harm.
Your dentist will evaluate your oral health during a consultation appointment to determine which treatment will work best for your specific needs. They will also consider your smile aesthetic goals, as each procedure can offer differing advantages for your teeth.
Dental Procedure Expectations
Veneers and crowns both cover a patient’s smile and are constructed in a dental lab according to your unique smile. But these treatments have different procedures that dentists use to secure the fixtures in place.
Dentist professionals will remove a small amount of enamel from the affected teeth to prepare them for both of these dental procedures. They can provide local anesthetic in both cases to maximize patient comfort.
Porcelain veneers consist of shells that secure to the front of the teeth using dental bonding. Dental crowns feature caps that cover an entire tooth, creating a seal for optimal protection. Your dentist can provide further details about your specific dental work during your consultation.
Porcelain Veneers and Other Treatments in Northborough, MA
Apex Dental offers porcelain veneers and other cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Northborough, MA. Dr. Gauthier also specializes in general, implant, and restorative dentistry, including dental crowns. To schedule an appointment with our practice, contact us online or reach our office by phone at 508.506.1691.