Veneers vs Dental Crowns
Fountain Valley, CA
 Both veneers and dental crowns are restorative procedures - but that’s where the similarities end. Veneers are mostly used to improve the appearance of otherwise healthy teeth that are properly doing their job. However, dental crowns serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Often referred to as ‘caps,’ dental crowns are used to repair heavily damaged teeth.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are made from thin layers of fine porcelain and are just one millimeter thick. Veneers are a noninvasive dental restoration procedure that leaves the existing tooth intact. The goal of veneers is to cover the front surface of the teeth and must be custom designed for each patient. Half a millimeter of enamel on the front of the tooth is removed in order to make way for the veneer. This makes it easier for the veneer to bond with the tooth. The amount of enamel that must be removed depends on the type of veneer. It should be noted that a veneer can only be placed on a tooth that has a sufficient amount of enamel.
Dental crowns are used to completely cover the tooth. Your dentist will remove a significant portion of the existing tooth to make way for a crown. This is why crowns are only used on teeth that have been badly damaged by trauma and cracks. In case of a decayed tooth, your dentist will remove the decayed part and rebuild some of the tooth so that it can provide support to the crown.
There are several types of dental crowns including: | • |
Ceramic crowns
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Metal crowns
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Porcelain fused to a metal alloy
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Stainless steel
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Resin crowns
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Zirconia crowns |
Benefits of Ceramic Crowns
Most patients prefer to use ceramic crowns because they closely mimic the natural appearance of real teeth. Below are just a few benefits of ceramic crowns.
Relatively High Durability
Although ceramic crowns are structurally weaker than metal crowns, they are durable enough for use on front teeth. They can protect damaged, stained, chipped, and cracked teeth. Ceramic crowns are also ideal for stabilizing a dental bridge or restoring an existing dental implant. In general, ceramic crowns can address many vulnerabilities associated with damaged teeth.
Mimic the Natural Appearance of Teeth
When handled by experts like Dr. Bijan Modjtahedi and , ceramic teeth can match the patient’s natural-looking teeth and can be custom designed to match the surrounding teeth to the precise shade. This is not possible with gold and metal teeth, which can contribute to an unsightly appearance. By contrast, ceramic crowns are virtually undetectable even to a trained eye.
Biocompatible
Ceramic is one of the most biocompatible materials for the mouth. A major advantage of ceramic is that it is inert in the human body, and its hardness makes them useful for teeth replacement. Moreover, by opting for ceramic, you are foregoing any potential side effects associated with metals. And now you can receive same day crowns without having to disrupt your daily schedule. Book an appointment today at Bijan Family Dental Practice by dialing (714) 421-4494, and our friendly dentists will provide you with a custom solution. |
