Full Coverage Crowns vs Veneers

Two popular options for restoring the appearance of the teeth are veneers and full coverage crowns. While the visible outcome of these might look similar, there are significant differences between the procedures, and different people have different preferences. There are some situations in which veneers and crowns aren’t interchangeable, most notably in the fact that a crown encases the entire crown of the tooth, while a veneer covers only the front of the tooth. Additionally, full coverage crowns can be used for cosmetic reasons or restorative ones, while veneers serve a strictly aesthetic purpose. There’s a lot more to understand about full coverage crowns vs. veneers, though, so read on for details.

First, it’s important to understand what crowns and veneers are:

  1. A crown covers the entire visible portion of a tooth, sheathing it in durable material that’s about 2 mm thick. Crowns can be used for restorative reasons and for cosmetic reasons, and they can be made of a variety of materials with different characteristics, depending on the patient’s preference and clinical needs. When used for cosmetic reasons, crowns can be made of porcelain or ceramic that matches the natural teeth in color and luster.
  2. A veneer is made of porcelain or other tooth-colored material that is bonded to the front surface of an existing tooth. Thin, translucent veneers are only about 1 mm thick and serve the sole cosmetic purpose of transforming the appearance of the teeth – the size, shape, color, length, or any combination of these things.

Both crowns and veneers can be used to correct teeth that are discolored, broken, chipped, or cracked. Crowns and veneers can help support weakened teeth or make slightly crooked teeth appear straight. Both procedures are permanent, which means that the tooth is permanently modified to accommodate the crown or veneer, and if the crown or veneer falls off or falls out, it must be replaced to keep the tooth safe. In order to place a crown, a dentist must remove a layer of dental tissue so there’s room in the toothline to accommodate the crown. To place a veneer, the dentist must first remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of the tooth; otherwise, the veneer would visibly jut out in front of the other teeth.

These differences help to understand the pros and cons of full coverage crowns vs. veneers. Some of these pros and cons, put simply, are:

Crown pros:

  1. The entire surface of the tooth is covered and is therefore protected from decay
  2. Crowns can be made to look and feel exactly like natural teeth
  3. Dental insurance commonly covers at least part of the cost of a crown
  4. Crowns can be cleaned just like natural teeth, requiring no special care

Crown cons:

  1. More natural tooth tissue must be removed to accommodate a crown
  2. Porcelain and ceramic can be more fragile than other crown materials
  3. The tooth with the crown may feel particularly sensitive, or you might feel some pain in your gums
  4. Porcelain fused to metal, a durable option for crowns, can show through thin gum tissue and appear as a dark line at the base of the tooth

Pros of veneers:

  1. Veneers will never show through the gums
  2. Less natural tooth tissue must be removed, preserving more of the tooth
  3. Veneers can create more dramatic aesthetic results in some cases

Cons of veneers

  1. More of the tooth is exposed and therefore susceptible to decay
  2. Veneers that look good and are durable can be very expensive
  3. Veneers can’t be reversed
  4. It is unlikely that veneers will be covered by most insurance policies

Veneers and crowns can both get expensive, based on a few different factors. Because crowns can serve a restorative purpose, they’re more likely to be covered by insurance than cosmetic veneers. The overall cost of a full coverage crown varies, based primarily on material, ranging from $1,000 to $3,500 per tooth, and the cost of porcelain veneers is slightly less than that, around $900 to $3,000 per tooth. Composite veneers are substantially less expensive, starting at around $300 per tooth, but should only be expected to last about 5-10 years. There’s a lot to consider, so it’s definitely worth a consultation with your dentist if you’re considering full coverage crowns or veneers. Ask questions, and consider all your options; after all, these are permanent restorations, so you want to be happy with them every step of the way.

Related Article: Partial vs Full Coverage Crowns