Can I Choose a Veneer Instead of a Crown?

A crown and a veneer can both serve as a way to protect your teeth. A dentist in Owensboro, KY can fit both over a real tooth to essentially complete it. However, the nature of the crown is more complex than the veneer. We’ll look at the two, how they both work, and when to opt for one over the other.

Crowns Vs. Veneers

These two types of dental devices can seem simple at first until you figure out that the terms can be used in different ways. Crowns in Owensboro, KY are essentially artificial teeth or partial artificial teeth, typically made from zirconium, porcelain, or composite.

You may get a crown after a root canal, as a way to reinforce a damaged tooth. Or you might get a crown if you have an implant. In this case, the crown becomes the entire replacement tooth as opposed to just an augmentation method. Veneers are made with similar materials, usually either a composite or porcelain, but their structure is different from a crown. Veneers in Owensboro are very thin shells that are essentially made to go over the tooth.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Owensboro, KY

Veneers are often known as cosmetic dentistry because they’re often done to correct issues like yellowing or crowding of the teeth. They’re typically only completed on the visible part of the smile. The word cosmetic does ignore some of the more practical elements of veneers, mainly that they can cover chips are cracks, which will make the tooth stronger overall — the same way a crown would. If you have questions about which one would work best for you, Dr. Travis Wilson Family Dentistry will assess your teeth to tell which one will give you a healthier smile.