A veneer covers only the tooth’s front surface, at around 1mm thick. A crown covers the whole tooth, at around 2mm thick, and can be made in porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all-metal. Both are used for discoloured, chipped, cracked, decayed or crooked teeth, but they solve different problems.
Veneers are the less invasive option, requiring minimal enamel removal, and are ideal for an intact tooth that just needs a cosmetic fix, shape, colour, or minor alignment issues. Crowns require more tooth reduction and are the better choice when a tooth has a large filling, has had root canal treatment, or is worn or cracked.
Getting a veneer typically means an impression or digital scan, a possible temporary veneer, then the permanent veneer bonded with cement and hardened under a UV lamp, with a night guard recommended for patients who grind their teeth.
Getting a crown follows a similar path, impression or scan, removal of any decayed material, a temporary crown, then a lab-made permanent crown cemented and adjusted at the final visit.
Neither replaces a missing tooth root, that’s the job of a dental implant, topped with its own crown once healing is complete. With proper care, traditional porcelain veneers last 10+ years.
