Most people might think that crowns and veneers are not that different, but apart from the fact that they’re both made in a laboratory, their use is very different, even if just in small details.
While crowns cover the whole of the tooth and can sometimes make up for lost volume, veneers are only applied to the frontal face, and because of this they are usually used in cosmetic treatments. They work best when used in cases where there is only light discoloration or small changes in shape in completely healthy teeth.
Their material, although very similar to that of the crowns, is more fragile, so it’s advised that they are only used in teeth where they aren’t put under a lot of stress and pressure.
But, when we’re trying to recreate a natural tooth, we always choose crowns. These are used over implants and when there is a lot of volume loss in a damaged tooth. This means they are stronger than veneers, and can therefore take on a lot more pressure, making them ideal to use in the molars.
It is necessary, in both cases, to erode the tooth to which they will be applied, but to different degrees, according to how each one will be used.
A crown is always more damaging because it implies having to shave off more of the tooth’s surface. Actually, when it comes to veneers it is possible sometimes to leave the tooth intact, or with minimal damage.
These are the type of details that can only be determined after a thorough examination. Putting on a crown or a veneer is a very serious procedure, because once it’s done, it can be very damaging to revert the process.
It’s important to remember that the material used for their cementation cannot be removed. This means that in the possibility that they have to be taken out, they have to be destroyed, and this is always damaging to the natural structure of the tooth.
Read also:
- Wisdom tooth and extraction: it’s not as simple as it seems
- Your teeth may be causing that earache
- Could your teeth be contributing to your bad posture?
- What’s a Vertical Smile Lift and how it can help you look younger
- Francisco Duarte and his surf board are going places!
- “We use our mouth to smile, eat and love” – Interview with Saúda Magazine
