Your smile is one of your best features, and you deserve the dental care it takes to keep it happy, healthy, and functional. At Balance Advanced Dentistry & Orthodontics, our team recommends veneers or crowns for patients all over Duluth to give them aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound grins. If you’re wondering which one is right for you, look no further! Keep reading to learn more about dental veneers vs. crowns.
What are veneers?
Ever felt like a chipped or stained tooth got in the way of your grin? Dental veneers are cosmetic tools that can enhance the appearance of any smile. You can think of veneers as masks for select teeth: these tooth-colored tools cover the front of your teeth to eliminate smile imperfections like cracks, gaps, stains, and chips.
What are crowns?
Crowns are very similar to veneers in that they cover select teeth, but there are a few key differences between them. The primary purpose of dental crowns is to provide structural support to decayed or broken teeth. While they can absolutely improve the appearance of your smile, crowns cover the entire tooth to protect the remaining structure without having to extract the tooth.
Veneers vs. Crowns
Both Look & Feel Natural
Both veneers and crowns are a part of the restorative dental field that brings your smile back up to par when years of wear and tear have worn them down. Whether you get veneers or crowns, we’ll color-match them to the rest of your teeth so that they look and feel natural when we apply them.
They Fit Differently
Dental veneers are designed to cover only the front part of your teeth. This means they show less of your gums than crowns, which cover the entire tooth like a cap. Veneers are also thinner – about one millimeter – while crowns are thicker – about two millimeters. Although the sizes are different, you won’t be able to tell.
Taking Care of Both Is Easy
Whether you get veneers or crowns at Balance Advanced Dentistry & Orthodontics, taking care of them will be a breeze. Both tools work just like your natural teeth, so you’ll need to brush and floss like normal to keep them looking white, clean, and healthy. Don’t forget that regular visits with your dentist are essential to maintaining your smile, especially when you have either of these two devices.
Crowns Last Longer
Both of these options are long-lasting devices that improve the quality of your smile, but at the end of the day, crowns last longer. You can expect to replace your veneers once every several years, but crowns could last your entire lifetime if you take good care of them.
The Cost Is Different
Depending on which appliance you choose, the cost will be different. While crowns typically cost more, insurance is likely to pay for the expenses. You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 for crowns. Veneers cost between $900 and $2,000 for each tooth, but you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket for this cosmetic appliance.
Which one is right for me?
Only your Balance Advanced Dentistry & Orthodontics doctor can tell you whether crowns or veneers are right for you, depending on the severity of your condition. If your tooth is mostly intact, you’ll likely only need veneers to improve the look of your smile. If your tooth is broken or decayed, however, you’ll likely need crowns to protect the integrity of your tooth for years to come.
Taking Care of Your Smile Is As Easy As One, Two, Three!
Taking care of your smile has never been easier than with your team of experts at Balance Advanced Dentistry & Orthodontics. With years of experience, we have all the tools you need to improve your smile and confidence. If you haven’t scheduled an appointment yet, don’t wait! Book your next visit in Duluth today!