Veneers vs. Crowns: What Each One Covers and Why
If a dentist has mentioned both a veneer and a crown for the same tooth, the two can sound like versions of the same thing. The clearest way to tell them apart is to ask how much of the tooth each one covers, and what the covering is there to do.
The core difference: part of the tooth, or all of it
A porcelain veneer only covers the front surface of a tooth to enhance its appearance, while a dental crown covers the entire tooth structure to add strength and protection (Cleveland Clinic). Put another way, veneers are different from crowns because they cover only the front surface of a tooth rather than the entire tooth structure (American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)).
What each one is for
Veneers improve your smile but don't necessarily strengthen or repair your teeth. While dental crowns can also improve the appearance of your teeth, their main purpose is to restore teeth that are badly damaged by decay or trauma (Cleveland Clinic).
What a veneer is
Veneers are coverings that fit over the front surfaces of your teeth, made with materials like tooth-colored composite or porcelain. They are cosmetic in nature and can conceal a wide range of aesthetic imperfections, including chips, cracks, gaps and tooth discoloration (Cleveland Clinic).
A companion article goes into what veneers are in more detail.
What a crown is
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth, and dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and root canal-treated teeth. A crown fits over the entire tooth, and a small amount of enamel is removed before the crown is bonded in place (Cleveland Clinic).
Crown materials and the fitting process belong to a companion article on what dental crowns are and when they're used.
Where to take the question next
Which of the two suits a particular tooth is not something an article can settle. Cost is a fair question to raise as well, and it is not one answered here. We're Dental Associates of Lodi, in Lodi, New Jersey, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. If you want to take the question further, see our first-visit page; we also have a veneers page.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. "Veneers." Updated 2022-07-18. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23522-dental-veneers
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). "Veneers." https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers
- Cleveland Clinic. "Dental Crowns." Updated 2023-04-14. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10923-dental-crowns
