Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain Crowns

Do you want to transform you smile fast, yet want minimal alteration to your teeth? Then Porcelain Veneers may be for you! Whether your concern is with gapped or slightly crooked front teeth porcelain veneers can often be a relatively fast way to transform your smile.

While veneers are more conservative than full porcelain crowns, and the results are faster than any orthodontic tooth movement, you must be a good fit for veneers for them to be the best option. Your dentist will know for sure and can discuss the reasons with you.

Bite Guards for Bruxism, TMJ, Jaw Pain, Headaches

How do veneers and crowns differ?

If you just performed that self-test, you probably noticed that it was uncomfortable for you even in the limited timeframe of less than 10 seconds.

And this was with your “awake mode protective instincts” in place to keep you from hurting yourself. Imagine then that the nighttime forces are several times this intensity and often last for many minutes on end and you’ll understand what your teeth and jaws are up against!

Some patients who need at least 8 to 10 veneers may get by with the no-preparation Lumineers technique, but most patients will require some enamel re-contouring to deliver a proper looking and functioning set of veneers. Regardless the whole purpose of doing veneers instead of full crowns, is that veneers are more conservative with regard to tooth preparation. So then, why do people even need crowns if veneers preserve tooth structure?

If your teeth already contain large fillings, you are a tooth grinder or clencher, or for other individual reasons that your dentist may discuss with you, then full crowns may be your only good long-term predictable option.

Modern Day Porcelain Materials

Available since the mid-2000’s there are stronger new porcelains which are constantly being improved over time. When zirconia and lithium disilicate (E-Max) porcelains came to the forefront in dentistry, they greatly reduced, if not almost eliminated, the need for metal in crowns. The porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown still exists, but its usage has been rapidly declining year after year.

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