There is little doubt that a radiant smile is one of a person’s biggest assets. Regardless of how well teeth are looked after as the years go by they can become chipped, small surface cracks can appear and discolored. These imperfections are often the things that cause a person to hide their smile out of embarrassment. It does not have to be this way; a dentist in Winnetka can correct these problems. There are a number of things that the dentist must consider before he or she can suggest the best approach to return the teeth to their original luster, to the point where the person can once again smile with confidence. The common cosmetic approaches to this problem are dental veneers and crowns.
There are some similarities between crowns and veneers; they both are made exclusively for a tooth and the purpose is to restore the teeth to their original beauty. The initial step is the dentist making an impression of the tooth or teeth which are going to be repaired; the impression is converted into a mold at a dental lab. The dental technician uses the mold to make the veneer or crown, the dentist fits it to the tooth with a special adhesive.
There is one significant difference between the two approaches; the veneer is fitted only to the visible part of the tooth while a crown encapsulates the entire tooth.
When the dentist in Winnetka is preparing the patient for a crown, he or she first must reduce the size of the tooth so the complete crown can fit over the prepared remainder. The tooth is often reduced in size by 2mm or more. In contrast, even though the tooth thickness must also be reduced for a veneer, it is considerably less and only affects the front of the tooth.
Dental crowns and veneers are used for different reasons and situations. A crown is employed when the entire tooth has to have the shape or color changed, crowns are also used to repair teeth which have been broken off or are seriously decayed. As crowns encase the entire tooth they are ideal for use on the molars which grind and chew food.
On the other hand, porcelain veneers are used on sound teeth but are discolored, chipped or cracked. The veneer is applied only on the front of the tooth. Although veneers are strong they are brittle, for that reason they are not used for molars but are used for canine and incisors.
Your dentist in Winnetka is the perfect professional to suggest veneers or crowns for your particular dental situation. You are invited to contact Dr. Thomas Adams Dentistry for more information.
