Veneer and Crown: What’s the difference?

April 3, 2021

What is a Veneer?

A veneer covers only the front surface of your tooth. Unlike crowns, veneers are considered a conservative solution to a compromised smile because almost all of the original tooth is left intact. When veneers are chosen, half a millimeter of enamel are removed to allow for the porcelain veneer to be placed on the remaining enamel.

E.max porcelain or lithium disilicate glass-ceramic porcelain can be used to make laminate veneers. E.max laminate veneer is the most commonly applied laminate veneer type in our dental centre in Turkey.

What’s involved with getting a Veneer?

The dentist will make an impression of your prepared tooth by using a mold. After impressions will be sent to the dental lab. Depending on how much your tooth was trimmed, you may have a temporary veneer placed on the tooth until the new one is ready.

3 days later, the permanent veneers will ready for check the function, aesthetic and harmony. If correction is required, it is sent back to the laboratory. Then if everything is okey, veneers are bonded. Light-sensitive resin is applied between the original tooth and the veneer. A special light is then trained on the area to cure or harden the resin creating an irreversible bond between tooth and veneer.

There’s typically minimal movement of the tooth after the veneer is in place. But you may need to wear a night guard to protect the veneer if you grind or clench your teeth at night.

What is a crown?

Crowns are considered a more aggressive solution than veneers. Usually crowns are recommended for the teeth that are badly broken or cracked, or where root canal treatment has been needed. Unlike veneers that are thin porcelain layers that cover the front of the tooth and the biting edge, a crown is fabricated of thicker porcelain and completely covers the entire tooth right down to the gum line.

If you have tooth decay, your dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth before making the crown. After the filling is made, crown preparation is made.

At Dental Excellence Turkey, we use metal-supported porcelain crowns, zirconium crowns, E.max crowns, ZirCAD Prime crowns. ZirCAD Prime crown , E.max crown and Zirconium crown are more preferred because they have aesthetically superior properties than metal-supported porcelain crown.

What’s involved with getting a crown?

Your dentist will produce an impression of your tooth by making a mold. The mold will be sent to the dental lab for fabrication of the crown.

The dentist may place a temporary crown on your ground-down tooth so that you can use your tooth while the permanent crown is being made.

When the permanent crown is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown. They’ll then place the permanent crown on your tooth and will adjust it so that it fits correctly and your bite is right. Then they’ll cement the new crown into place.

Teeth with crowns may have some movement, which can change your bite. If this happens, you’ll need to have the crown adjusted.

Veneers vs. Crowns: Which One Is Right for You?

A veneer is a very thin layer of porcelain or other materials, about 1 millimeter (mm) in thickness, that’s bonded to the front of your existing tooth. Laminate veneers are used mainly for cosmetic enhancement.

A crown is about 2 mm in thickness and covers the whole tooth. If you have lost 50%-60% of your tooth structure because of decay, trauma or other reasons, we choose the crowns for your treatment.  As we know that the enamel is the strongest matter in the body, and we know that once this enamel is damaged or lost, it means that the remaining part is the most breakable part of the tooth. Dental crown replaces all of the lost enamel. So, it is like replacing the tooth itself.

Pros of getting a Crown done:

• Strong and long-lasting
• Can be budget-friendly as they are made up of various materials (Porcelain Fused to a Metal Alloy (PFM), Zirconia or Emax)
• Protection from sensitivity.
• After the root-canal procedure, it becomes the main support for the remaining tooth structure.
• No need to worry about chewing forces when on crowns.
• Any tooth (anterior/posterior) can be restored with a crown.
• If the crown falls, it can be re-fixed without the need for replacement.

Cons of getting a crown done:

• Tooth-preparation is needed.

Pros of getting dental veneer done:

• Without extensive orthodontic treatment looks fantastic.
• Gives an option for getting an instant smile makeover.
• They need minimal tooth preparation.
• Gives the perfect illusion of natural teeth.

Cons of getting veneer done:

• Veneers are prone to chipping, especially if the person has bad habits like grinding teeth or biting hard things
• Also it is harder for dentists to do things like contact veneers because they are very difficult to handle and fix to the teeth.
• Requires experience dentists and technicians to create these small pieces of porcelain.
• Hence, veneers are more expensive than crowns.

Dental Excellence Turkey – Veneers and Crowns in Turkey

To learn more about veneers and crowns offered at our Dental Centre in Turkey, we invite you to call +905444522524 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Fatih Erkun.