Crowns versus veneers – Which is best for you?
At 1300SMILES dentists, We Caretm about ensuring your smile is beautiful, natural looking and one that you’ll be proud to display. Sadly, it is very common for our teeth to acquire chips, discolouration, gaps or misalignment, any of which may cause you to feel less than confident about your smile.
Cosmetic dentistry will help you create a smile that shines, through specialised dental treatments. Crowns and veneers are a great way to restore the beauty of your smile if you have teeth that are discoloured, cracked or chipped. Although they both have a similar cosmetic result, the procedure you choose will depend on the overall tooth structure.
What’s the difference between a crown and a veneer?
If your teeth are discoloured or chipped, crooked or gapped, an amazingly strong, wafer-thin veneer can be bonded onto the front of your natural teeth,
to greatly improve your smile. Veneers are incredibly thin and are custom made just for you. They combine a completely lifelike appearance with the strength, beauty and durability of dental porcelain. With professional procedures by our 1300SMILES dental team, they can greatly improve the appearance of your
smile with a long-lasting, natural-looking solution, that’s almost as strong as natural teeth.
A crown on the other hand covers up the entire tooth, right down to your gum line and it will help to prevent any further infection and destruction, allowing you to eat and speak properly by restoring your tooth to full function. If you have lost fillings, experienced tooth decay, chipped or cracked enamel, have a tooth that has received root canal treatment, or teeth that have lost their structure due to trauma, then we will recommend you have a crown fitted. With dental crowns, you will find your natural teeth’s appearance and functionality is greatly improved, and your smile will be brighter too!
What is the difference in procedure?
Constructing a dental crown usually involves just two appointments at your 1300SMILES dental practice. During your first visit, your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing a small amount of your tooth’s surface and make an impression mould. We will then place a temporary crown over your tooth while your crown is made. Our dental technicians will construct your crown at our facility, over about three weeks. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including gold alloy and several types of ceramics; but most commonly from porcelain for its functional strength and close match to your natural teeth. We then invite you to return to your 1300SMILES dental practice, where your temporary crown is removed, and your definitive crown fitted.
Then once you are completely happy with your crown’s appearance, and your dentist is happy with the technical fit, your new crown is permanently adhered. Your beautiful new smile is now ready to greet the world! 1300SMILES dentists will make sure your new crown will blend in seamlessly, and it will look considerably better than the tooth it is covering.
If you are getting a veneer, your dentist will first carefully reduce the surface of your tooth to remove some enamel, enabling us to get the strongest bond and to make space for your new overlying veneer. Veneers require little anaesthesia to be used during preparation, and need only minimal natural tooth to be removed. Your dentist will then make an impression mould of your teeth and gum-line and apply a temporary covering while the 1300SMILES dental facility makes your new veneers.
The impressions are sent to our dental technicians for your veneers to be made, in some instances, we may ask you to visit our technicians to correctly match a shade for your veneers. Around three weeks later, we invite you back to try your veneers. If we are happy with the technical fit, and appearance, your new veneers are bonded to
your teeth.
How do I know which choice is right for me?
The best way to determine the right choice for you is to book an appointment with your nearest 1300SMILES dental practice (see our website for details). At your consultation, we will assess your individual situation and take the time to discuss your goals for a brighter, more confident smile. We will consider all options with you, providing personalised advice to meet your needs. Your 1300SMILES dental team will encourage you to ask questions about any aspect of your procedure before we begin. We want you to be completely informed and comfortable with your treatment, because your needs and concerns are at the heart of everything we do. We truly care about your smile!
For further information about veneers or crowns, contact 1300SMILES dentists or visit www.1300SMILES.com.au.
Cairns Central – Cairns Central Shopping Centre, Shop 3, Ground Floor, Corner Spence & McLeod Streets, Cairns, QLD, 4870 – (07) 4031 1166
Smithfield – Smithfield Shopping Centre, Shop 68, Corner Captain Cook & Kennedy Highways, Smithfield, QLD, 4878 – (07) 4038 1300
