Composite Veneers Vs Crowns?

 

Chipped, cracked or misaligned teeth usually cause you any serious harm but can cause havoc on your confidence and self-esteem.

Fortunately, we now have a variety of options for quick and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures. Letting you put your insecurity’s aside and smile with confidence. A remarkable number of products and procedures have advanced in recent years to make dental services affordable and easy to access for more people than ever before. If you wish to have your teeth repaired, now you can without the need for invasive and lengthy procedures.

At present, cosmetic dentistry is able to brighten, fill in, shade, align and even replace teeth with the use of remarkable new techniques and materials. When you have a healthy smile and attractive teeth, all the other benefits will follow. Improving your self-image encourages you to maintain good dental hygiene and at the same time improves your overall health.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures – The basics

 

There are so many cosmetic dentistry procedures available it’s difficult to keep up. One is touch-ups. Yellow stains and white spots can be improved with touch-ups. The asymmetrical gum contours and uneven edges in your teeth can really make your smile look terrible. Simple corrective cosmetic dentistry procedures can change it dramatically.

Asymmetrical contours can easily be corrected in just a single office visit. Requiring no downtime and a minimal local anaesthetic. Frequently, the symmetrical appearance of your gums can be as much as 50% of the total cosmetic value of your front teeth. This can be seen in the smiles of young patients where their gums are displayed a lot when talking and smiling.

Do you suffer from spots and uneven colour to your teeth? Very dark and strong white spots can usually be reduced with one visit as well. The acidic-micro-abrasion scrubs are affordable and helpful in clearing these problems. These unattractive spots can be safely removed with just one visit to your dentist using this technique, and the good thing is that it does not require the use of anaesthesia.

The easiest way to a dazzling smile is through teeth whitening. This can be done at home or at a dental office with tray-based bleaching products. If whitening is done in the office, it’s easier and more effective than doing it at home. Also important is the condition of the teeth and if the whitening used comes from a good brand name.

There are dentists who give their patients bleaching kits that they can take home. These kits usually work faster than the ones bought over the counter because they contain stronger amounts of whitening agents. Also, the trays are custom fitted which helps to avoid gum irritation from excess whitener resting on the gums.

Crowns, veneer and composite veneer are used in modern cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of your smile and correct minor cosmetic problems. But, what’s the difference, and what’s the better option.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover your front teeth. They are used to fill gaps between teeth that are damaged badly shaped or somewhat crooked. Veneers can cover teeth discolored, uneven, crooked, worn, or chipped. They can also be applied to teeth with visible discoloration, chipped and uneven edges.

The veneer process usually takes place over three visits to a dentist. They are an alternative to crowns that are more expensive. The dentist will fabricate a mould of the prepared teeth and send it away to a dental laboratory that will mold your veneer. During your 3rd visit, the dentist will apply the Veneers to your teeth.

What are Composite Veneers?

A composite veneer is a type of dental bonding that permanently attaches a composite resin material to the front surface of your tooth.

Unlike a crown and a standard ‘veneer’, composite veneers don’t require any filling or removal of your own tooth.

Composite veneers are minimally invasive and cause no damage to your own tooth. Veneers are a great option for covering stained or discoloured teeth, chips and misalignment.

 

Composite Veneers – The Fitting

Fitting composite veneers is a painless procedure that requires no anaesthetic. Firstly, your dentist will colour match the composite material to your own tooth. It may be recommended for you to get a tooth whitening procedure at this point. Composite material is applied directly to your tooth, it is sculpted into shape and a special light is applied for setting. Next, it will be smoothed and polished. Composite veneers can last up to 10 years if looked after well, however, they can be more prone to discolouration than porcelain veneers.

What is a Crown?

Dental crowns are by no means a new procedure. Having existed for centuries and believed to have been used by Alexandra the great, dental crowns have adapted over the years. The first porcelain crown was painted by Dr Charles Land in 1903 – Today it’s one of the most commonly used dental procedures.

In essence, a crown is a cap that is permanently placed over the entire tooth. They are generally used to improve the shape, size, strength or cosmetic appearance.

Crowns are a great way to conceal broken or discoloured teeth. The use of crowns is not just cosmetic, they can be used to repair and protect already damaged teeth from further disfigurement and cover, conceal dental implants and fillings. They after often applied after a root canal to strengthen week and fragile teeth.

Crown Fitting Procedure

Fitting a dental crown can involve two appointments to the dentist office. The first to file down your tooth and take an impression using a mould. A temporary crown can then be fitted whilst the impression is sent away for the final crown to be made. The second appointment will be the fitting. Although, some dentists can now complete in one appointment.

There are many different types of material that can be used in crowns, including gold, metal, ceramic and porcelain. Porcelain is frequently selected as the most atheistically pleasing and natural-looking. Porcelain crowns can last from 5 – 15 years, although some good quality crowns can last much longer.

 

Reasons to choose a dental crown.

• If you have weak, damaged or teeth in need of a repair then crowns are a great option to protect and strengthen.
• Crowns are generally more durable, last longer and are less prone to chipping and discolouration.

 

Reasons to choose composite veneers.

Composite veneers can be a good option if you are seeking cosmetic changes only rather than repairing damaged teeth. Generally, they are most suited for light cosmetic changes, stained and chipped teeth. The fitting process is quick, non-invasive fitting and usually cheaper than fitting crowns.

Caring for Veneers & Crowns

Caring for veneers and crowns doesn’t differ much from your usual dental hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly twice daily and pay attention to the gum line where the gum meets the tooth. This area is extremely susceptible to plaque buildup that will cause tooth decay if not clean. Floss your teeth to remove food particles between teeth. In addition to professional at-home care, you should have regular contact with your dentist for professional cleaning and check-up appointments.

 

Summary

Cosmetic dentistry has dramatically changed the way our teeth can be improved. With the arrival of newer and more efficient treatments to whiten teeth, our smiles can now look (and feel) better than ever before. Cosmetic dentistry procedures can help you maintain a great looking and healthy smile.

Crowns and veneers are used to improve the overall appearance of your teeth and in some cases repair your teeth. Your dentist will be able to help you determine which procedure you are best suited to. I hope you enjoyed this article. Leave your comments below.