What to choose for aesthetic restoration of teeth: veneers or crowns?

Who does not dream of a smooth and snow-white smile? But few get it from nature. However, today it is possible to obtain aesthetic and attractive teeth with the help of innovative dental techniques. To achieve the ideal result, both veneers and crowns are used. You should figure out which of these methods is better and more efficient, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and only after that make a choice.

Peculiarities of installing veneers

The front teeth are visible when a person talks and laughs, therefore, increased requirements are placed on restoration products – aesthetic appearance, durability, naturalness. They also affect the psychological state, because self-esteem grows with a good smile, sociability increases.

All these conditions are met by veneers – thin plates of ceramic and zirconium dioxide, porcelain or composite compositions. Recently, vinyl overlays have been in great demand.

The use of such microprostheses allows:

• hide defects – chips, cracks, gaps;
• correct shape;
• improve enamel color.

Installation is made on the front side of the front row. Before manipulation, the specialist grinds hard tissues, removes tooth enamel and makes special sections that contribute to reliable fixation. It should be noted that the veneer looks very natural.

Only living teeth with preserved nerves are suitable for installation. In addition, it should be noted that these are quite fragile products. Therefore, they are not used on chewing molars.

Material of manufacture

Not only aesthetic parameters depend on the material, but also the method of fixation. Dental overlays are made according to individual casts of the patient. To do this, use different options.

1. Ceramic – characterized by increased strength and attractive appearance. Proper care of ceramics and compliance with the doctor’s recommendations extend the service life up to 15 years. The material has no pores, so the penetration of pigments and changing the shade is impossible. This means that they will not darken over time.
2. Zirconium dioxide is durable and resistant to constant stress. The basis of the plate is a zirconium dioxide framework, on which a ceramic layer is applied.
3. Porcelain – plates up to 0.5 mm thick. Porcelain easily takes the desired shape, it is easier to choose an individual tone for it. The material is not subject to the accumulation of plaque, but mechanical damage should be avoided.

Composite materials should also be considered – a more accessible type of restoration. The composite is applied to the patient’s teeth, evenly distributed and dried with a special lamp. Sanded after drying. The service life is short – up to five years. The material is exposed to pigmentation.

Indications for use

The principle of using prostheses involves the correction of minor defects. Cases when it is better to put veneers:

• destruction less than 50%;
• shape correction;
• close or wedge-shaped arrangement;
• moderate malocclusion
• erosion, chips and congenital defects of enamel;
• interdental gaps;
• visible front fillings;
• tetracycline spots and dark spots;
• fluorosis – blackening, yellowing and destruction of enamel due to fluorine deficiency.

The main functions of the plates are protective and aesthetic.

Arguments for and against

When deciding on the use of this type of microprosthetics, it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of veneers. Among the advantages of aesthetic veneers are:

• high efficiency – color, texture, shape resemble natural enamel;
• color fastness;
• strength and wear resistance;
• durability (ceramic, porcelain);
• using a minimally invasive technique;
• hypoallergenic materials;
• Crown protection

Disadvantages of aesthetic veneers:

• will have to grind off the enamel to fix it;
• highly desirable – avoid heavy loads;
• when damaged, the entire structure changes;
• the inside of the tooth remains uncovered;
• require professional care and cleaning, regular inspections.

Many of the minuses include the high cost, at which they may not be available. However, the quality and duration of operation compensate for the price.

Contraindications

Restoration with the help of veneers has no strict contraindications – caries, stone, inflammation of the oral cavity. Prosthetics is possible after their elimination. The procedure is not recommended during pregnancy, lactation and in childhood.

Regarding absolute bans:

• fillings on the inside of the tooth;
• pathological surface erasure;
• destruction of the interior;
• bruxism;
• gum inflammation;
• absence of chewing molars;
• treatment with the resorcinol-formalin method.

People involved in traumatic sports disciplines (like boxing) are also contraindicated in records.

Features of the use of crowns

A crown is a single prosthesis or prosthesis, consisting of several elements, completely covering the damaged tooth. Crowns are put on a pre-turned tooth, on a pin or implant. The way the crowns are fixed on the teeth allows you to close them from all sides – from above, in front and behind, on the sides.

The main functions of crowns are:

• restore;
• strengthening;
• preserve the anatomical shape;
• chewing;
• protection against bacteria.

After installing the crowns, in a few days the patient fully adapts to them and does not experience discomfort. In order for the crowns to serve for a long time, you need to carefully care for them and clean them from plaque, and you should also give up some habits, such as cracking nuts and seeds, etc.

Crown materials

The crowns are made from different materials and using different technologies, which affects the performance and service life.

1. Pressed ceramics – the inside of the cap is pressed from ceramics, the upper part is a ceramic mass. This technique helps to imitate the natural structure, luster and color of the natural dentition.
2. All-ceramic crowns – no internal base. The ceramic mass is applied to the plaster model, baked at high temperature and polished. This is delicate work, because the product is fragile, but on the teeth it acquires strength, and the patient can freely use it.
3. Zirconium dioxide is again a ceramic material, but the inner base is made of zirconia. Very strong and reliable type of crowns, but somewhat inferior in aesthetics to the first option.
4. Cermet – a cobalt-chromium or nickel-chromium alloy base and a ceramic top. The strength parameters are high, but the aesthetic ones are slightly worse, while wearing, the gums can change color through the metal. Therefore, this type of crown is inferior to more bioavailable ones. There is also an option using hypoallergenic precious metals – palladium, gold, platinum.
5. Metal – mainly used only for chewing molars. A durable and biocompatible material with an acceptable cost, however, it is not aesthetic.

Ceramic microprostheses are installed on cutting, canines, molars. They are very similar to healthy and natural teeth.

When crowns should be placed

Indications for the installation of crowns are as follows:

• destruction of hard tissues over 60%;
• missing one tooth in a row;
• abnormal sizes of teeth, when turning for veneers is impossible in such a volume;
• pathological abrasion of enamel;
• bruxism;
• severe shaking.

People involved in traumatic areas of activity are recommended to use crowns, they better withstand shock and mechanical stress.

Advantages and disadvantages of crowns

The advantages of crowns are, first of all, naturalness, restoration of appearance and chewing function. In addition, tight fixation of prostheses prevents the growth of bacteria. The crown has a long service life, resistance to pigmentation and increased stress.

The main disadvantages of crowns are the need for grinding, possible depulpation, the risk of cracks and chips, with poor fixation to the neck of the tooth, inflammation of the tissues.

Contraindications

Restoration by this method is prohibited in some cases. First, it is not needed for healthy teeth. Also, crowns are not used for purulent-inflammatory processes, looseness of the third degree, a very small height of the crown part, severe malocclusion.

Additionally, the category of contraindications for crowns includes health problems – oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, intolerance to analgesics, mental disorders.

Restrictions include pregnancy, lactation, and childhood/adolescence.

What are the main differences between veneers and crowns?

To the question “which is better – veneers or crowns?” cannot be answered unambiguously. The use of an orthodontic product depends on each specific situation. The specialist takes into account the condition of the oral cavity, indications and contraindications for the upcoming manipulation.

The basic principle is that veneers and crowns are solutions for completely different problems.

The degree of processing of the dentition – this is how veneers differ from crowns mainly:

• for crowns, turning is carried out on all sides to obtain a conical shape;
• for veneers, only the outer surface is removed, fixation takes place with a special mixture.

If the crown is part of the treatment of tangible damage or mechanical damage, then the veneer is a technique of aesthetic dentistry of living teeth, the purpose of which is to improve the smile and appearance.

It can be summarized as follows: where veneers are appropriate, crowns are not needed. However, where a full-fledged prosthesis is needed, veneers will not help.

Microprosthetic pricing

Most patients, first of all, ask about the prices of prosthetics. They are interested in what type of overlays will cost more or less. But it is pointless to focus on this criterion, because the method of restoration is determined by the doctor based on the current state of the patient.

The choice of cost is possible within one technology. The material used to create the product also matters.

In addition, the fact that the dental clinic has its own dental laboratory plays an important role: work without intermediaries reduces the cost of the process.

How much will a crown or veneers cost? The price is formed by several factors:

• type of micro prosthesis;
• attachment method;
• complexity of work;
• number of teeth restored;
• location and attachment – implant, own tooth;
• manufacturing technology and material used;
• additional manipulations.

The cost is calculated individually depending on the needs of each individual patient.