Veneers vs. Crowns: Which Is Right for a Damaged Front Tooth?
A chipped, cracked or stained front tooth is hard to ignore, and two of the most common fixes are veneers and crowns. If you're weighing veneers vs crowns, the right answer usually depends on how much healthy tooth is left.
Our Plantation, FL, cosmetic dentists look at both porcelain veneers and crowns before recommending either one. Each can look natural, but they solve different problems.
Here's how the two compare for a damaged front tooth.
How Much of the Tooth Each One Covers
A veneer is a thin porcelain shell bonded to the front surface of a tooth. It changes how the tooth looks without wrapping around it.
A crown fits over the entire tooth, much like a snug cap. Cleveland Clinic explains that crowns can , not just change its color or shape.
How Much Tooth Gets Reshaped
Both treatments remove some enamel so the restoration fits and stays put. A veneer usually needs only a thin layer trimmed from the front of the tooth.
A crown needs the tooth reshaped on every side. That means more reduction, but it also lets the crown hold a weakened tooth together.
Strength and Protection
Veneers are mainly cosmetic. They can hide small chips and cracks, but they aren't designed to brace a tooth that has lost much of its structure.
Crowns tend to be the stronger choice when a front tooth is badly broken, has a large filling or has had root canal treatment. Our dental crowns page lists weak, cracked and broken teeth among the cases where a crown usually fits best.
How Each Option Looks
Both are custom made to blend with the shade and shape of your other teeth. Veneers may suit gaps, uneven shapes or very dark stains that bleaching can't lift.
All-ceramic crowns can also look natural on a front tooth. When several teeth need help, a dentist may suggest veneers on some and a crown on another.
How Long Each One Lasts
Porcelain veneers and crowns can both last many years with good care, though neither is permanent. Grinding, chewing ice or opening packages with your teeth can shorten the life of either one.
Veneers also may , according to the American Dental Association. That's one reason a crown is sometimes the safer pick for a front tooth under heavy bite pressure.
Which One Fits Your Tooth?
In general, a veneer may make sense when the tooth is healthy and the concern is mostly cosmetic. A crown may make more sense when the tooth is weak, heavily filled or cracked deep enough to affect its strength.
An exam and X-rays show which is true for your tooth. You can also read how dental crowns protect damaged teeth and who tends to be a good candidate for porcelain veneers.
For a very small chip, tooth-colored dental bonding may be enough. Our cosmetic dentistry services cover all three options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a front tooth that had a root canal get a veneer instead of a crown?
Usually a crown is the safer choice, because a tooth treated with a root canal is often weaker than it looks. A crown covers the whole tooth and helps keep it from cracking.
Cleveland Clinic notes that dentists use crowns to cover root canal-treated teeth. Our crowns page also lists teeth that recently had root canal treatment as a common reason for a crown.
How many visits do veneers and crowns take at Barr Dental Group?
Both usually take two or more visits, with a few weeks in between while an outside dental lab makes the final piece. You'll wear a temporary crown or temporary veneers in the meantime.
Crowns typically take two visits at our office. Veneers start with a consultation and exam, then preparation and digital impressions, then a final visit to bond them in place.
Can veneers or a crown be undone later?
No, both are considered permanent because some enamel is removed to make room for them. A veneer or crown can be repaired or replaced, but the tooth underneath won't go back to its original shape.
The American Dental Association notes that veneer treatment is not reversible. That's why our dentists make sure patients are comfortable with the commitment before starting.
Will a single veneer or crown match the teeth next to it?
It should, because each one is custom made in your natural shade and shape. Matching one front tooth takes care, so color and fit are checked before anything is placed for good.
At our office, we check the fit and color of veneers before bonding them. For crowns, the second visit is when color, shape and fit are double-checked.
Does dental insurance cover veneers or crowns?
Coverage depends on your plan and on whether the treatment is cosmetic or restores a damaged tooth. Veneers are usually treated as cosmetic, so they may not be covered unless they're medically necessary.
Our team can bill your plan and help you get the most from your benefits. If you want an exact figure first, ask for a pre-treatment estimate, which can take about 6 to 8 weeks.
Talk With Our Dentists About Your Front Tooth
Choosing between veneers vs crowns is easier once a dentist has looked closely at the damaged tooth. Our dentists in Plantation, FL, can walk you through both options and what each one involves.
Call Barr Dental Group today at (954) 327-7400 or request an appointment online.