Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Crowns
Thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, today there are a lot of choices when getting treatment. Sometimes these choices can be puzzling: which option is best? Do I need a porcelain veneer or a dental crown? What is the difference?
A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is bonded to the front of your tooth. It does not encase the whole tooth, as a crown does, and is used only on a front tooth.
Porcelain veneers are appropriate for:
- Crooked or misaligned teeth
- Teeth worn from grinding
- Gaps between teeth
- Discolored teeth
- Chipped or broken teeth
Dental crowns are for teeth that still have a healthy root, but which are too decayed or weak to endure by themselves. In general, dental crowns are used to:
- Restore a tooth to its original shape
- Improve the appearance of a tooth
- Strengthen a weak tooth
- Improve a severely decayed, rotated, or crooked tooth
Dr. Sands’ smile makeover options include both veneers and crowns. Because porcelain resembles a natural tooth, it is ideal for veneers and other cosmetic dental purposes. Porcelain crowns are also popular for use in conspicuous areas of your mouth. For a back tooth, such as a molar, gold is frequently used because its strength provides a strong chewing surface.
Although gold crowns tend to be stronger, with proper care a porcelain crown should last at least 10 years, and may even last a lifetime. Practicing good dental hygiene will help prolong its life.
Porcelain veneers can be a great aesthetic tune-up for your mouth. Not only will they give you a brighter, whiter smile, they will help protect against future stains and enamel wear. Dr. Sands custom-makes every veneer in his own lab, ensuring a proper fit.
If you live in the greater Los Angeles area, we urge you to contact the Beverly Hills, California cosmetic dentistry office of Dr. Kevin Sands to find out how we can help brighten your smile as we have done for movie stars.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 6:16 pm and is filed under Porcelain Veneers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
