Thinking about getting a smile makeover? When you weigh the pros and cons of veneers and crowns, it can be challenging to decide which treatment is best for you. Our dentist in Vista can help you select the best restorations for your smile-and aesthetic goals-to provide the long-term results you need.
Dental Crowns in Vista
Crowns are sometimes called “caps.” Unlike fillings-which go inside of teeth-dental crowns go completely around the tooth, encasing them under a protective shell. The only exception is implant-supported crowns, which are attached on top of an implant abutment when you’re replacing individual teeth.
The purpose of a crown is to keep your tooth together so that you can continue biting and chewing with it. Without a crown, the tooth would break apart and eventually need to be extracted.
Dental crowns are made from a variety of materials, with porcelain being one of the most popular (especially if the tooth is visible.) Each one is designed in a lab so that it looks identical your natural teeth. The idea is that when it’s installed over your broken tooth, other people won’t be able to tell it’s not an anatomical tooth.
When to Choose Dental Crowns
Dental crowns near you make it possible to restore broken, severely decayed, or fractured teeth, making them whole again.
You will likely need a filling if your tooth is non-functional or at risk for continued breakage. Such as when there is:
- An accident or traumatic injury, resulting in breakage
- Decay across a large area of the tooth
- Root canal treatment
- Aggressive wear or fractures
- Large, old fillings that need to be replaced
- A single dental implant
A crown can prolong your tooth by preserving the structure that’s still left.
During your dental exam, we’ll take an X-ray of your tooth to evaluate the extent of the damage. If a smaller restoration is an option-such as a filling or inlay/onlay-then we may recommend one of those instead.
Dental Veneers in Vista
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that covers the front of your tooth, changing the way it looks from the outside. When you look at veneers up close, they almost appear like a partial crown. However, they don’t go around the entire tooth; veneers only mask the visible areas that show whenever you’re smiling.
The purpose of dental veneers is solely cosmetic. They help enhance your smile rather than rebuild worn or broken areas. In most cases, you’ll want to have veneers placed across all of the visible, upper front teeth. Depending on the width of your smile, this could be anywhere from 6-10 veneers at a time. They typically are not installed on one or two teeth, like crowns are.
When you choose to get dental veneers, you can select exactly how you want your smile to look. From the size and color of your teeth to the contours of the edges, no detail is left out. Whereas with crowns, the restoration is made to match the teeth on either side of it.
Best Uses for Dental Veneers
Cosmetic veneers are ideal when you have healthy teeth and no gum disease, but want to change how your smile looks.
Some of the most common scenarios for using dental veneers include:
- Crowding or small gaps between teeth
- Uneven or mildly chipped enamel
- Severe staining and discoloration
- Atypical tooth shape
Remember, since veneers are installed in sets of six or more, they address several teeth at one time. They do not serve a restorative purpose like crowns, so they are not appropriate if you have severe decay or fractures.
Visit Our Dentist in Vista
For porcelain crowns near you, call Ivory Pointe Dentistry. We’ll meet with you one-on-one for an exam and to discuss the pros and cons of veneers and crowns in your specific circumstances. Request your appointment today!
