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Table of Contents
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Crowns vs Veneers - Shannen Heffernan
Crowns vs Veneers - Shannen Heffernan
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Before & After - click to enlarge - Composite Veneers
Patients often ask us:
- Which is better, crowns or veneers?
- What are the differences?
- Which of these cosmetic treatments should I choose?
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of crowns and veneers and their similarities and differences.
What Are Crowns And Veneers?
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Before & After - click to enlarge - Crowns
Crowns and veneers are dental prostheses that effectively and affordably repair, strengthen, and improve the appearance of your teeth, preventing future dental issues.
We often make them from porcelain, but various materials are available depending on the patient's individual requirements.
We permanently fix the crowns or veneers to your teeth, generally after some preparation.
We expect crowns and veneers to last up to fifteen years with routine dental care, depending on the material used. Dr. Niall Vallely
As with all our cosmetic consultations, we offer free initial crown and veneer consultations, and we have payment plans and financing available for both procedures.
Interested In A Cosmetic Consultation?
Based in Dublin (Red Cow), Dublin 2 (Aungier Street), Limerick and Galway - we offer free, no-obligation consultations :)
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What Are The Differences Between Veneers And Crowns?
| Category | Crowns | Veneers |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Area Covered | Covers the whole tooth (or a dental implant) | Covers the front surface of your tooth |
| Treatment Type | More functional - Designed to protect a damaged tooth | Mainly aesthetic - Designed solely to improve your smile :) |
| Thickness | More thick - A crown is a cap that covers the whole tooth | Wafer thin - Designed to sit on the front of your tooth / teeth |
| Cost (See Our Prices For More Info) | €275-€700 per tooth (Depending on the material used) | €550 per tooth |
| When Would This Treatment Be Recommended? | Tooth has eroded, been chipped or broken, after a root canal treatment or because an old crown needs to be replaced | Perfect for treating discoloured or chipped teeth as well as treating those who just want to brighten up their smile! |
| How Invasive Is The Treatment? | Less invasive | More invasive |
| How long will the treatment last? | Up to 15 years with routine dental care (depending on the materials used) | Up to 15 years with routine dental care (depending on the materials used) |
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Veneer (Right): Covers the front surface of the tooth, is thinner and is mainly an aesthetic treatment
- A veneer only covers the front surface of your tooth, whereas a crown covers the whole tooth (360 degrees)
- A veneer treatment is not as invasive as a crown treatment
- A crown is a 'cap' that we place over the top of your tooth
- Veneers are mainly an aesthetic treatment
- A crown is more of a functional treatment and will protect a weak tooth and prevent further damage
- A crown is generally thicker than a veneer
Crown vs Veneers: Which Option Is Right For You?
Although crowns and veneers will provide a similar aesthetic outcome, we use them in different circumstances.
A crown is typically used when a tooth has been broken, chipped or is discoloured. The crown is a permanent cap that is placed on top of your tooth - hiding the offending tooth and improving your smile!
Veneers are more of an aesthetic treatment, in that that are an option open to people who merely want to brighten up their smile.
They are many use cases for each which is why we offer people free consultations so they can get all their questions answered and receive a recommendation on treatment from our dentists before making any decisions.
At this time, you can also discuss payment and financing options.
Why Dental Crowns?
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What Is Dental Crown - Dr. Carmen Anastasiu - 3Dental - Crowns
A dental crown is basically a 'cap' over your tooth. We remove a portion of a tooth's structure to prepare a foundation for the crown.
We then permanently secure the crown to the abutted tooth using dental cement.
Dentists use crowns to rebuild and strengthen broken, decayed or damaged teeth. Dr. Niall Vallely
Dental crowns restore your tooth's natural shape, size and functionality.
Why Dental Veneers?
A veneer is a thin strip of porcelain that covers the front of your teeth and is perfect for treating discoloured or chipped teeth as well as treating those who just want to brighten up their existing smile! Dr. Niall Vallely
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What Are Veneers - Dr. Niall Vallely - 3Dental - Porcelain Veneers
While veneers are known for their cosmetic uses, they can also be used to treat broken and worn teeth.
The amount of preparation that a tooth requires before placing a veneer depends on the problem being repaired and the veneer's material. For instance, composite veneers often do not require the removal of any of the existing tooth structure before we apply them.
Veneers produce a highly aesthetic result and are often associated with a smile makeover or 'Hollywood smile.' You can see the different types of veneers available on our veneers page.
How Does The Process Work?
| Process For Crowns | Process For Veneers |
|---|---|
| X-ray to check the health of your teeth | X-ray to check the health of your teeth |
| We take an initial index of tooth for the temporary crown, numb the patient and start preparing your whole tooth (360 degrees). We then take a scan or standard impression which will be sent to the lab to make the permanent crown. | We take a scan of your teeth and make a smile design to see what your veneers will look like first. At the first appointment, we will also take an initial index of your tooth for the temporary veneer. We will then prepare a small amount of the enamel. Then a scan or standard set of impressions will be taken and sent to the lab for the permanent veneer. |
| Place temporary crown in place for 3 weeks until crown is ready to be permanently fitted | Place temporary veneer in place for 3 weeks until the veneer is ready to be permanently fitted. |
Would You Like To Book A Free Cosmetic Consultation?
Based in Dublin (Red Cow), Dublin 2 (Aungier Street), Limerick and Galway - we offer free, no-obligation consultations :)
Book Your Free ConsultationPlease Select Your Nearest Location
What Are The Advantages Of Veneers & Crowns?
| Advantage Of Crowns | Advantage Of Veneers |
|---|---|
| Can be placed on only one tooth (as opposed to several teeth which would be a bridge) | Makes your smile beautiful |
| Protects teeth with cracks or cavities | Tailored to your individual style thanks to our digital smile design process |
| Enhances the appearance of your tooth while also protecting the structure | Can replace the need for whitening or braces (in some cases) |
| Is used as a cover for a dental implant |
Front Teeth Crowns vs Veneers
A Crown For Your Front Tooth
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A crown for a front tooth is still a good option; it is just thicker than a veneer.
Choosing between a crown or a veneer for the front teeth depends on the severity of the tooth's condition.
If your front tooth has had a root canal treatment, it is weaker as the nerve has been removed.
In this case, a crown may be a better option for the front tooth.
Veneers For Your Front Teeth
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For cosmetic reasons, a veneer is a better option for the front teeth when the underlying teeth are strong and healthy.
We can use veneers to improve the size, shape, colour or shade, length and sometimes even the alignment of your teeth.
In both cases, your dentist will recommend the best treatment for you.
What Are The Risks Of Veneers And Crowns?
| Risks For Crowns | Risks For Veneers |
|---|---|
| The tooth is shaved down 360 degrees so it is a more invasive treatment than a veneer | Usually non-reversible |
| Typically only placed on one tooth at a time | You need several of them at a time |
| Could have a visible metal base, depending on the design and the materials used |
Some Before & Afters & Testimonials!
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What About Bonding?
Composite bonding is another excellent option to improve your smile. The material is a stronger composite than used in fillings as it is more durable. Dr. Niall Vallely
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Composite Bonding explained by Dr. Niall Vallely - Dental Cosmetic Bonding
Your dentist can use bonding to close gaps between teeth (black triangles) that can develop after braces. It can change the colour of your teeth and the shape too. Like any treatment, it has many advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantage is that your natural teeth are left underneath the bonding untouched, so if you ever wanted to take them off, you could have your natural teeth back. The main disadvantage is the stains from food and drinks with intense pigments, e.g. coffee and red wine.
If they stain, this is irreversible. We can apply composite bonding to a small area of the tooth to repair a chip, for instance. We can also apply the bonding to the entire tooth, which gives us much more flexibility when choosing the shade. The full cover bonding is known as a composite veneers (or veneers in a day).
What About Implants?
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Dental Implants Explained By Dr. Peter Doherty - Dental Implants
Implants are a great option to fill the gaps of missing teeth. The surgeon will have to determine whether the patient has enough bone to be eligible for an implant, and they take a CT scan to check the level of the bone.
After receiving an implant, the dentist permanently fixes a crown to the implant.
With implant treatments, we attach the crown to the implant instead of a prepared tooth. We do not use veneers with implants. Dr. Peter Doherty
Should I Go Overseas For Cosmetic Dentistry?
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Cosmetic Dentistry Abroad with Dr. Peter Doherty
When people go overseas for treatment to get what they think are 'veneers' done, in reality, they are often getting crowns.
They are often over-treated and receive unnecessary procedures. Many have most of their teeth filed down, and crowns fitted purely for cosmetic reasons.
We have seen many patients who believed they had veneers but actually had crowns.
We usually decide to shave down a tooth to fit a crown because the tooth is weak or failing and requires the crown to support it and hold it together.
The risks of shaving down healthy natural teeth is very serious because if the tooth's nerve does not settle down, they will need a root canal treatment which is an additional cost.
We will not unnecessarily remove a healthy tooth when possible, and we can achieve incredible results without the downside of health risks.
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What Are The Next Steps?
We offer free cosmetic consultations in all our clinics, giving you the opportunity to:
- Find out what treatment might be best for you
- Get all your questions answered by your cosmetic dentist
- We can even offer (at an extra charge) you the ability to see what your smile will look like using our digital smile design process!
We have clinics in:
A 360 View Of Our Dublin Clinic!
DublinA 360 View Of Our Limerick Clinic!
LimerickA 360 View Of Our Galway Clinic!
GalwayConclusion
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Whether crowns or veneers are better depends on each unique case. There are many advantages to both when used correctly in the right situation.
Your best option is to book a free consultation with us at 3Dental and get all your questions answered in person.
After an examination, they can help you decide which is the best treatment to achieve a great result.
Interested In A Cosmetic Consultation?
Based in Dublin (Red Cow), Dublin 2 (Aungier Street), Limerick and Galway - we offer free, no-obligation consultations :)
Book Your Free Consultation)