Porcelain Crown vs. Veneers
The health, strength, and beauty of the smile can be compromised by a number of different factors, including cosmetic blemishes, structural dental damage, and infection. Dental treatments address these types of concerns to restore a healthier, stronger, and more attractive smile.
Porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers are two common dental treatment options for damaged and blemished teeth. Porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers address a wide range of dental concerns, but the treatments are not the same. Dentists at Bell Dental, in Lake Jackson, TX, help patients consider porcelain crowns vs. veneers, and which is best-suited to their unique needs and desires.
What Is a Porcelain Crown?
A porcelain crown is also commonly known as a “cap.” This is because a porcelain crown sits over the crown of a tooth much like a small hat. The crown completely encompasses the crown of the tooth on all sides. It restores the strength, shape, and appearance of a tooth that has been damaged by decay, infection, or advanced aesthetic issues. Porcelain crowns provide a barrier that protects the core of the tooth (where the roots and nerves lie) and reduces the risk of further dental complications.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are thin ceramic shells that are bonded to the facial surface of the teeth. These restorations are roughly the width of a contact lens, so they conceal the natural teeth without looking artificial or out of place. Veneers hide cosmetic flaws to give the smile a straighter, more uniform, and attractive appearance.
Porcelain Crown Candidates
Porcelain crowns are extremely versatile restorations. While porcelain crowns can enhance the appearance of a tooth, they are primarily meant to address structural flaws and other dental complications that affect oral strength and functions. Potential porcelain crown candidates include individuals with the following concerns:
- Advanced tooth decay
- Acid erosion
- Root canal infection
- Moderate to severe chips, cracks, or fractures
- Severe tooth discoloration
- Tooth loss (porcelain crowns can be affixed to dental implants to address tooth loss)
Porcelain crowns eliminate dental problems, restore oral strength, and protect against future dental complications, making them a great restorative dentistry treatment for our Lake Jackson patients.
Porcelain Veneers Candidates
Whereas porcelain crowns are best-suited for dental issues that affect oral health and functions, porcelain veneers are intended to address cosmetic imperfections that are superficial in nature. Porcelain veneers can address a wide range of aesthetic blemishes, so individuals with any of the following concerns are likely to be ideal candidates for veneers treatment:
- Dental stains and discoloration
- Minor chips, cracks, and fractures (those that do not extend beyond the outer layer of tooth enamel)
- Gapped teeth
- Minor misalignment issues
- Uneven teeth
- Teeth that are mis-sized or misshapen
Porcelain veneers allow our Lake Jackson patients to completely transform the appearance of their smile with just a single dental treatment.
Contact Us
If your smile has been compromised by structural damage, infection, or cosmetic blemishes, the dentists at Bell Dental offer services that can restore the health, strength, and beauty of your smile. To learn more about the dental treatments we provide, and which may be right for you, contact our dental practice online, or call (979) 297-1201 and schedule an appointment.