When undergoing restorative or cosmetic treatments from your dentist in Virginia Beach, it’s important to understand exactly what the work entails. You don’t want to get the wrong procedure and you don’t want to spend money unnecessarily. With help from your dentist, this decision becomes much clearer.
Porcelain veneers and crowns both have their own set of benefits, but choosing the right treatment makes a huge difference. If you aren’t sure which options is the best for you, wonder no longer.
A Brief Overview: Crowns and Porcelain Veneers
Dental crowns or caps are thin coverings that bond to preexisting teeth. They typically go on top of weak teeth experiencing significant decay or teeth that have cracked or broken due to forced trauma. They’re also used in tandem with dental implant and root canal procedures, restoring cavities that fillings cannot, and holding pieces of broken teeth together.
While porcelain veneers also cover teeth, their functions are quite different. They act as a sheath that covers imperfections in your smile, such as gaps, chips, cracks, discoloration, or other cosmetic-related concerns. Once you learn their differences, comparing the two will feel like comparing apples and oranges.
Porcelain Veneers: For a Better-Looking Smile
Veneers are particularly reserved for solving cosmetic issues in your smile. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to realign teeth, for example, you can achieve straightened teeth without having to undergo long-term orthodontic treatment. If you’ve tried teeth-whitening treatments in the past without success, veneers can create a whiter smile, even when sitting next to your current teeth.
The treatment for porcelain veneers can be completed in just two visits. First, the dentist will take a mold of your smile so they can create a custom-made fabrication in a dental lab. During that production, the dentist will buff down a very small amount of your tooth enamel to make room for a temporary crown that you’ll wear until your next visit. At the second visit, you’ll have the permanent veneer bonded to your teeth, which you’ll treat like the rest of your teeth.
Crowns: For Restoring and Saving
When your mouth is at risk of contracting bacteria or your undergoing significant restorative treatment, crowns are a better choice. While crowns can be used for cosmetic purposes, they are more versatile for less visible teeth and better at protecting your tooth roots and pulp from bacteria. Molars for example, are more prone to breaking and cracking because of the additional stress they experience. Crowns are commonly placed on molars for this reason, something veneers cannot accomplish.
Like veneers, however, their treatment is completed in two visits and undergoes the same production process. While wearing your temporary crown, you’ll have to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods to avoid accidentally removing it. While placing the crown, they’ll make any adjustments as needed before permanently bonding them.
Still have questions on which treatment to pursue? Contact your dentist about crowns and porcelain veneers in Virginia Beach today to transform your smile!
About the Author
Dr. Carol Morgan graduated from the University of Richmond with honors and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She also graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. She’s a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics, and many others. To learn more about her practice, contact her at (757) 412-1400 or visit her website.