Whether you seek to restore the health or appearance of a damaged tooth, your dentist can help you achieve your dental goals. They will evaluate the affected tooth and recommend individualized treatment that will suit your unique smile. There are several types of treatments they can suggest that may serve cosmetic or restorative purposes.
Two of these options use ceramic caps that attach to a tooth: dental crowns and porcelain veneers. Though they share some commonalities, these treatments can differ in their benefits. Read on to find similarities and differences between these two popular dental procedures. Your dentist in Nashua, NH, can tell you which options could enhance your smile.
Restore Dental Structure with Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that fits over the entire tooth. This is a restorative dental tool, meaning a dentist uses it to reshape the structure of a tooth that has sustained damage.
Dentists build crowns on a custom basis for each patient. They must remove a minute amount of enamel from the affected tooth to make room for the cap, but the patient will receive a local anesthetic to remain comfortable during this process. The dentist seals the crown into place with dental cement. For more information on how we administer local anesthetics and other sedation options, please visit Sedation Dentistry.
The result is a durable replacement of damaged enamel that enhances the tooth’s strength and health. It will also look both gorgeous and natural in the mouth, boosting your confidence in your smile. Though a restorative dental treatment, the crown does have these aesthetic benefits, too.
Dental crowns can remain in place for fifteen years or longer, but they are not indestructible. You will need to follow aftercare instructions from your dentist to ensure you do not crack or dislodge your crown.
If this accident does occur, do not ignore this dental injury. Call your dentist for urgent repair or replacement of your crown to avoid harming your underlying tooth further.
Improve Smile Appearance with Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers involve custom-made shells that a dentist will attach to the front of a patient’s teeth. They are cosmetic dental treatments, meaning they are designed specifically to improve the appearance of your smile. They can build a whiter, straighter, and fuller smile according to your aesthetic goals.
Like with dental crowns, a dentist must etch into the enamel to prepare the surface of the affected teeth. With local anesthetic, you will feel no discomfort during this procedure. Then when the veneers are ready, the dentist adheres them to the teeth using dental bonding.
Though veneers are meant to provide cosmetic dental benefits, they can improve your oral health too. Veneers will cover weak spots in the tooth enamel to preserve your dental structure. And they can make it easier to get your teeth clean, boosting your oral hygiene and therefore, dental health.
Veneers resist staining and decay, but you should still practice good oral hygiene habits. This ensures you get the most benefits from this treatment. Veneers will last for fifteen years or longer with this type of care.