At LIFESmiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide various cosmetic and restorative dental procedures including porcelain veneers and dental crowns. These two solutions may appear to be very similar; though they actually have some key differences when incorporated into your treatment plan. Learn more about the similarities and differences between porcelain veneers and dental crowns below.

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns are porcelain caps created to cover the entire exterior of your tooth. They are typically utilized in dental treatment plans to address concerns like severe chips, cracks, or decay. Because dental crowns replace the entire exterior of your tooth, this means that this procedure requires significant enamel removal. Your natural tooth will be shaped down to its foundational core, which will support the dental crown. In the past, creating dental crowns would take weeks to complete. However, our office has incorporated CERAC® technology, which enables our team to create custom-designed, high-quality dental crowns in just one visit to our Boise dental office. Once complete, your dental crown will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile and restore the affected tooth back to its intended functionality.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin, porcelain shells designed to replace only the front-facing portion of your tooth. Because of how thin they are, they do not require significant enamel removal compared to dental crowns. Veneers are typically suggested to conceal blemishes on your teeth as a part of a cosmetic dentistry treatment plan. Depending on your needs and aesthetic goals, porcelain veneers can be used to address a single tooth or multiple teeth to achieve your ideal smile. Once bonded into place, your porcelain veneers will look, feel, and resemble the rest of your natural teeth. However, most of your natural tooth structure will remain intact beneath the porcelain veneers.

Which treatment is right for me?

It can be hard to know which dental treatment is right for you without consulting with a professional dentist. If you think porcelain veneers or dental crowns could help you resolve a dental concern, please contact us to schedule an appointment. Serving Boise, West Boise, Meridian, and Eagle, Idaho, we offer personalized dental care in a state-of-the-art environment. We help patients achieve their goals with advanced dental care, compassion, and personal attention. We look forward to meeting with you soon!