Posted: January 15, 2023
Uneven or crooked teeth might keep you from having the glowing smile you want and cause you to hide your natural smile. In some cases, orthodontic devices such as retainers and braces can help straighten teeth and bring them into better alignment.
However, these treatments do not address teeth that are uneven or discolored compared to surrounding teeth. In these cases, a veneer or crown may be needed to achieve the look of your smile you want.
Although the procedures are very similar, veneers and crowns are quite different in shape and what they are best used for.
Veneers are generally thought of to be the less drastic of the two. These are small pieces of porcelain that are shaped and shaded to specifically match your mouth. Since veneers only cover the front portion of the affected tooth, only that area of the tooth needs to be ground down to create the necessary surface for the veneer to adhere to.
Veneers are a great option to fix teeth that have become discolored from a root canal or excessive fluoride or have become stained from certain medications or food. They can fit well within gum margins for a natural look. However, since they only cover the front of your tooth, they are more susceptible to being chipped or knocked off than crowns.
On the other hand, crowns are also made out of porcelain and cover a lot more of the tooth structure, and are generally used to change the shape and size of the entire tooth. These are very effective at adding strength to teeth weakened by disease or decay and can be used to replace tooth structure that is lost from impact or injury. Crowns are also used with dental implants for whole-tooth replacement.
If severely stained, misaligned, or uneven teeth keep you from showing a radiant smile, call Dr. Evola at Forestream Dental in Depew, NY, at 716-656-8686 or visit www.forestreamdental.com to learn more about veneers and crowns and see which one might be able to help you.
