Veneers vs Dental Crowns – Which is Right for You?

Veneers vs Dental Crowns – Which is Right for You?

Cosmetic dentists offer plenty of ways to fix your smile, and the options can get confusing. We often see patients wondering whether getting veneers or a dental crown will be best, so we’ve put together this article to help you decide which dental treatment to choose.

We hope this guide to veneers and crowns will clear up some of the questions you have surrounding the procedures and how they differ. We offer both treatments at our private dental surgery in Manchester, so we can also answer any further questions you may have using the contact details below.

What Do Veneers and Dental Crowns Do?

Veneers and dental crowns can both be used to restore the appearance of teeth, and to offer a more durable solution to aesthetic or general fixes than composite bonding.

You may need (or want) veneers or a dental crown to fix a variety of issues with your teeth:

• Chipped or Cracked Teeth

In dental terms, and if the crack is severe enough, we sometimes refer to cracked teeth as dental fractures. This is where you have a crack or break that has damaged the tooth and requires treatment. Some cracks will be purely aesthetic, and these are often known as hairline cracks or craze lines. If you have a dental fracture, the tooth may have split with a visible crack or broken into pieces. This is where you might need emergency dental help.

• Tooth Decay

If you have tooth decay, you might notice due to the symptoms associated with the issue. These can include pain, bad breath (halitosis), an abscess (a clear sign of infection within a tooth or gum), and tooth sensitivity as well as areas of discolouration. In some cases, you might not even notice a tooth is decaying. Regular visits to the dentist can help ensure your teeth are healthy and that you won’t need more expensive treatment like veneers or crowns in the future.

• Gaps Between Teeth

In dental terms, gaps between the teeth are referred to as diastema. Composite or porcelain veneers are a great way to fix this, building in the gaps that your natural teeth don’t fill.

Why Choose Veneers?

Veneers are a good option if you have concerns about how your teeth look. We would recommend veneers for more aesthetic concerns, rather than structural concerns. Veneers are available in two different materials:

Porcelain veneers are the closest material in terms of matching how teeth look. They do give the most natural and durable finish, though they are more expensive. You can expect porcelain veneers to last between 10 – 15 years on average.

Our porcelain veneers begin at £850 per tooth.

Composite veneers are cheaper and are applied and sculpted within just one visit to the dentist. If you have an emergency chipped tooth, composite veneers are an ideal option. The resin used for composite veneers is much more affordable than what we use for porcelain veneers, though it may not last as long. Composite veneers generally last between 5 to 7 years. As a material, composite resin is also more prone to staining than porcelain. This means you may need to schedule more dental hygienist appointments for a scale and polish to avoid discolouration.

Our composite veneers begin at £400 per tooth.

Why Choose Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a better way to treat more damaged teeth, or teeth that have become weakened. We think of dental crowns as a way to restore structural issues as well as cosmetic problems. You might need a dental crown if you suffer with pain in your mouth due to a decayed or damaged tooth, a tooth fracture, or a weakened tooth that needs treatment. Crowns provide both protection and an aesthetic improvement by restoring the tooth using a multi-appointment procedure.

When you first visit us, we will prepare the tooth. This could involve the removal of decay or infection, as well as re-shaping the tooth to ensure your crown will fit when it is ready.

We work closely with our dental crown labs where your bespoke crowns will be made; this ensures that your second visit involves the complete fitting and restoration of your tooth.

Our dental crowns start at £750 per tooth. The final cost will depend on the materials chosen and the complexity of your case.

Which is Right for You?

Your personal smile goals always matter when you come to visit us, and our experienced team will be able to direct you towards making the right decision to help fulfil those goals.

We often recommend that a dental crown is better for:

• Structural issues
• Clients willing to wait 2 weeks while your crown is prepared in the lab (we will provide a temporary crown!)

We often recommend that porcelain veneers are best for:

• Long lasting, durable dental solutions that cover the front surface of the tooth
• More realistic smiles and a material that mimics natural teeth
• Those willing to spend a little more on their smile

We may recommend composite veneers as a solution to fix:

• Emergency dental issues that need resolving right away
• Getting broken teeth fixed on a budget
• Cosmetic dental issues that need fixing immediately
• Those looking for a more affordable option

Veneers or Crowns in Manchester at Ringway Dental

At Ringway Dental, we offer a range high-tech cosmetic and restorative dentistry techniques that offer quality resolutions to common dental concerns. These include both types of veneers, as well as a variety of materials to choose from when selecting a dental crown.

As a team based in our luxurious surgery in Cheadle in Greater Manchester, we are well-placed to offer our many clients a more comfortable retreat during their experience with us. We don’t want any of our patients to feel like going to the dentist is a chore, and so we do everything we can to ensure you will be well looked after during your visit. If you have any queries about whether veneers or a crown would be best for you, do get in touch. You can call us on 0161 437 2029 or contact us online.

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