Porcelain Veneers vs. Porcelain Dental Crowns - Colonial Dental Group

    CHICAGO, IL, February 24, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Two options used to reinforce and restore damaged or flawed teeth are porcelain dental crowns and porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers are very thin, translucent layers of ceramic porcelain placed over the surface of a tooth to hide the front and sides of that tooth. Porcelain crowns, or caps, are porcelain coverings for the entire tooth.

Benefits of Both Porcelain Veneers and Dental Crowns
Both porcelain veneers and porcelain dental crowns can help teeth that are:

- Damaged due to decay
- Chipped or fractured
- Fragile following endodontic therapy
- Permanently stained or discolored

Though dental crowns were usually the first choice, porcelain veneers have grown in popularity. Which one will work for your individual situation depends on several factors and will be discussed with you by the experienced dentists at Colonial Dental Group.

The biggest difference between porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns is the amount of your natural tooth structure that will be removed. Veneers are placed on top of your natural tooth and require very little structural removal. Porcelain crowns require more removal in order to strengthen the existing tooth.

Best Option: Porcelain Crown
If your tooth or teeth are moderately unhealthy, a porcelain crown may be used. This is usually the case if there are large areas of decay or the tooth has been weakened and is brittle. Porcelain crowns are most often used following a root canal, or when fillings have failed in the past on the affected tooth. Since porcelain crowns completely cover the entire tooth, they are a good remedy for more severe dental problems, as well as for those who grind their teeth.

Best Option: Porcelain Veneer
Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice when the shape or color of the tooth needs to be restored, or when gaps need to be closed between teeth. Porcelain veneers are used when the damage to the teeth is not very severe, but still needs to be covered.

The success of your porcelain veneers or porcelain dental crowns depends upon how well you take care of them after your procedure, as well as the training and skill of your cosmetic dentist.

If you are interested in porcelain veneers or porcelain dental crowns in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the experienced cosmetic dentists at Colonial Dental Group.

Website: http://www.colonialdentalgroup.com

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