What are dental veneers and how do they compare with dental crowns and dental implants?
Modern dental techniques are advancing in tandem with the growing number of people turning to cosmetic dentistry to enhance the beauty of their smiles. Dental veneers are among the emerging cosmetic dental treatments that enjoy greater mainstream popularity in the last 10 years.
Dental veneers consist of ultra-thin shells that are bonded to your teeth to effectively hide superficial dental flaws. The porcelain material used to fabricate the veneers can be colour-matched to your existing teeth and precisely sculpted in such a way that the veneers blend in seamlessly to create a natural looking smile.
The question commonly asked about dental veneers is how they would compare with other treatments like crowns or implants. The main difference lies in their distinct approach to restoring beauty to your smile.
Dental Veneers Vs Crowns
Dental veneers encase the front of your teeth are strictly for cosmetic enhancement. The dental crown, on the other hand, encloses the entire tooth as a means to protect teeth that are badly broken or cracked. A crown is also used to prolong a tooth from further damage following root canal treatment.
Dental veneers are considered a viable option for patients who basically have a strong and healthy tooth structure but are unhappy about having gappy, discoloured, crooked or misshapen teeth. A crown can also be used to beautify your smile by changing the colour and shape of your tooth but it is mainly used to reinforce the structural integrity of the tooth.
In terms of treatment procedures, they are similar in that they both use custom-made mouldings of the patient’s teeth to produce tooth-like dental prosthesis. However, the veneering process is more conservative. While both procedures require removing a thin layer of tooth enamel to enhance the bonding process, the dental crown procedure would require trimming 2-4 times more tooth structure by comparison.
Dental Veneers Vs Dental Implants
Dental implants consist of small titanium screws that are surgically inserted into the patient’s jaw to serve as artificial roots. The metallic posts provide a robust anchor to hold the replacement tooth, crown or dental bridge firmly in place.
As the costlier but more stable alternative to removable dentures, dental implants are used to replace your missing teeth. A typical dental implant procedure takes place over a two-stage surgical process that is much more patient-involved compared to the veneering process.
Upon inserting the titanium screws (implants) into their precise locations on the jawbone where the teeth are missing, the dentist would take an impression of the entire implant site to create a mould for building the replacement teeth at a lab. The implants are left undisturbed for 3-6 months to allow them to form a biological bond with the jawbone, following which the dentist would secure the final restoration in place using special connectors known as abutments.
Which treatment should you choose?
All the above treatments involve modern, safe and effective procedures. In the hands of an experienced restorative or cosmetic dentist, you can look forward to highly aesthetic and customisable results for each of them.
Whether you have cracked, chipped or stained teeth, dental veneers are able to conceal your dental imperfections using a relatively fast and minimally invasive procedure. The wider adoption of dental veneers means that a pristinely white and perfectly sculpted smile is no longer the exclusive domain of famous celebrities.
As mentioned, veneers are commonly used to restore the outward appearance of a tooth. They are not the best option if say your tooth requires structural repair or needs to be extracted.
To make an informed decision, talk to your dentist who can give you a more in-depth understanding of which one provides the best solution for your individual case.
Looking for a quick and safe way to beautify your smile? Dental veneers can help you achieve straight, beautiful and perfectly aligned teeth.
To book an appointment with our friendly and experienced Cosmetic Dental Team, call North Sydney Dental Practice at 02 8074 5386.
