Veneers & All Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain veneers and all porcelain crowns can be fabricated to address similar cosmetic issues. There are distinct reasons for utilizing either one of these highly cosmetic treatments, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each treatment. Either treatment can provide natural looking restorations, duplicating the color, translucency and surface texture of natural teeth.
Yes, we can fool mother nature!
Common reasons for porcelain veneers or all porcelain crowns
- Unsightly spaces between front teeth
- Mild crowding of front teeth
- Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
- Teeth that are worn down
- Teeth that are chipped or broken or decayed
- Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped.
Distinctions between Veneers and Porcelain Crowns
- Porcelain veneers and all porcelain crowns are fabricated from virtually the same materials and can provide the same cosmetic outcome regarding color, translucency, and life-likeness.
- Veneers generally cover only the lip side of the tooth, and are bonded to the enamel. It can be difficult for veneers to adequately treat large spaces between teeth, badly broken down or decayed teeth.
- Veneers are most effective when the natural tooth is essentially healthy with at most some small to moderate sized fillings. Discolorations, mild position problems, closing small spaces between teeth are commonly treated with porcelain veneers.
- Less tooth is prepared for veneers than porcelain crowns.
- Porcelain crowns are generally stronger than veneers.
- Porcelain crowns can more effective restore badly broken, decayed or heavily filled teeth.
- We generally have more control over changing the shape of teeth with porcelain crowns than veneers
Fabrication of Porcelain Veneers or All Porcelain Crowns
Undertaking highly cosmetic treatment entails significant detailed discussion and planning. It is crucial that we clearly understand you goals and desires, and that you understand how we will provide that outcome.
- Diagnosis and treatment planning. This first step involves your active participation. It is important that we know what you would like to accomplish. There are times when veneers are not appropriate treatment, or will not enable us to provide the outcome you desire, and hence all porcelain crowns will be the recommended treatment. It is important that you understand our reasoning behind this decision. X-rays and photographs will be taken and diagnostic impressions of your mouth will be made at this time to assist in properly designing the ultimate cosmetic outcome.
- How do I know what I will look like when the veneers are done?
There are a number of different methods of giving you a clear idea of what you will look like after the porcelain restorations are placed. We always work with models of your mouth and fabricate the restorations in wax before we start treatment. Not only is this is an excellent way for you to see what you will look like, but it helps us determine what we can and cannot accomplish with the restorations. Sometimes we can translate that into a resin “overlay” that goes over your own teeth and provides an even better review.
- Preparation. Detailed impressions of your prepared teeth will be fabricated and sent to a dental laboratory that then constructs your restorations. While the final restorations are being prepared, temporary veneers or crowns will be placed for your convenience and comfort. It is important to note that Porcelain Crowns require more preparation than Veneers.
- Placement of the veneers: We will first place the restoration temporarily on your tooth to examine its fit, color, and cosmetic outcome before we permanently bond it to them. During the placement both you and your dentist have the opportunity to evaluate the result. If both of you are pleased with the result, then the restoration will either be bonded to the tooth in the case of veneers, or secured with an appropriate adhesive in the case of porcelain crowns. If you, the patient, or your doctor is not satisfied with the restoration, we will return it to the laboratory to better match the desired outcome. Only when both you and your doctor are pleased with the outcome will the restorations be permanently placed.