At Smile Design Dental, we offer numerous dental restoration methods for your smile. Our tools and techniques can have a significant impact on the appearance or function of your teeth. Two common methods we use to help our patients are dental veneers and dental crowns.

Learn more about each option to get a better idea of which one may be right for you, then call us at 845-670-5423 to make an appointment.

What Are Dental Veneers?

A dental veneer is a thin layer of porcelain or other materials that is about 1 millimeter thick. It is adhered to the front of your tooth to hide imperfections and improve the appearance of your tooth.

Preparing a tooth for a veneer is minimally invasive. About a half a millimeter of enamel is removed from the front of the tooth to roughen the surface. This makes it easier to bond the veneer to the tooth.

What Are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is about twice as thick as a veneer, approximately 2 millimeters, and covers the whole area of the tooth above the gumline. Crowns are typically made of porcelain, metal, or a combination of the two. Because it is thicker and encases the entire tooth above the gumline, crowns tend to be more durable than veneers.

To prepare a tooth for a dental crown, more of the tooth needs to be removed than for a veneer. Dental crowns are commonly used to fix the appearance and function of a tooth after being treated for tooth decay. If a crown is being used after decayed portions of a tooth are removed, your tooth may have to be built up to support the crown.

Which One Is Right for You?

Each option is different and can be a successful way to restore your mouth to its full look and function. But in most cases, only one is right for you.

Typically, veneers are considered the more conservative option. Less enamel needs to be removed from the front of the tooth, and as long as the rest of the tooth is healthy, the core and back of the tooth are left alone. If the issues you are having with your teeth are relatively minor and cosmetic, veneers may be the right choice for you.

Veneers can significantly improve the color and uniformity of your teeth, giving you a new and beautiful, yet still natural-looking smile.

With crowns, a large portion of the visible tooth has to be removed before the crown can be placed. Crowns are typically used when the issue you are having with your teeth is more fundamental. If you have teeth that are broken, cracked, or a tooth that recently underwent root canal treatment, a crown is likely needed.

There is only one way to know for sure which solution is right for you. Call Smile Design Dental at 845-670-5423 today to schedule an appointment. We will take a closer look at your teeth and discuss your options with you.