A Restorative Dentist Can Use Both Crowns and Veneers

A Restorative Dentist Can Use Both Crowns and Veneers

A restorative dentist can help you if your tooth has become damaged. Previously, when a person's tooth became cracked or chipped there were not many options for correcting it. Some people even had their tooth pulled, which is now unnecessary most of the time thanks to modern dental techniques. By visiting the dentist immediately after teeth have been damaged, most teeth can be restored and saved.

Dental crowns and veneers are two ways that a dentist will restore the tooth. They can be used to correct teeth that have been chipped or cracked.  Additionally, a veneer is often used to cover dark stains, close gaps in teeth, and make them even. Crowns are more frequently used to restore a tooth after a large portion of it has been removed during a procedure like a root canal. Both options provide patients with a way to improve the appearance and strength of a damaged tooth and allow for a person to eat normally once their tooth has healed.

While there are many similarities between the two procedures, there are also many differences.  Here is what you need to know.

How they are used. Dental veneers are used more often to restore a tooth with minor damage while the majority of the tooth is still in place. This can include teeth with small holes in them, chips, or cracks. Meanwhile, dental crowns are needed when a larger portion of the tooth is missing, or the crack is so large that the tooth is falling apart. A restorative dentist will use a crown when the damage is more extensive.

What they look like. A dental veneer is made of all-porcelain or ceramic so that it looks completely natural. This is an excellent solution for someone who may be repairing one tooth but also wants to cover stains on other ones at the same time. They can be placed on one or all of a person's teeth. Dental crowns are made of several materials and a patient can select which one to use. All-metal crowns are more common for back molars since it is the most durable and will last the longest. All-porcelain and porcelain-on-metal are also common and more frequently used on teeth that people can see. The only challenge is that they don't last as long.

Tooth preparation. In both scenarios, a restorative dentist will prepare the tooth by removing a portion of the enamel so that the crown or veneer can fit and feel natural. More of the enamel is removed with a crown than with a veneer since the crown surrounds a tooth where the veneer simply sits on top. Temporaries are worn after the tooth is prepared while the lab is creating a permanent solution.

Placing a crown or veneer. Once the permanent ones are ready, the temporary will be removed and if the permanent crown or veneer fits perfectly it will be bonded to the tooth.

Both solutions can look natural and feel great and allow the patient to eat like normal and speak comfortably. A restorative dentist will make recommendations on what needs to be done after examining a damaged tooth.