Dental veneers and dental caps: types and differences

White teeth, aligned teeth, teeth of the same size … they are the dream of many of us. But showing off a perfect smile is not so difficult when you put yourself in expert hands like ours. Today, there are countless treatments that, whether for aesthetics or oral health, help us improve our smile.

Some of these treatments consist of repairing or replacing the affected tooth with a veneer or cover, but do you know the difference between each of these treatments? At Virginia dental care, we tell you.

Dental veneers

Veneer teeth shaving is perfect when you improve your smile for an aesthetic purpose. The treatment consists of sticking a small sheet of porcelain or resins on the front part of your tooth using special compounds depending on the type you choose.

However, you should know that in both cases, your original tooth will be filed and modified to adapt it to this treatment, so it will not be a reversible process, and the use of veneers will be for life unless you opt for the subsequent treatment of covers or crowns.

What types of dental veneers are there?

We can find two types of dental veneers on the market:

• Composite Veneers: Placing a composite veneer on the tooth begins by sanding your original tooth to its size. Subsequently, with a paste composed of resins and chemicals, the dentist will shape your tooth in a process similar to creating one practically from scratch.

Once the tooth has acquired the shape that the dentist deems appropriate, by the patient’s needs, a led light is applied to harden the material that has been applied to the tooth.

• Porcelain veneers: They are the perfect solution for changing the color or shape of your tooth. As in the case of composite veneers, the first step is to sand your tooth down to a smaller size than the original piece for the subsequent application of the veneer. In this case, it is about fine porcelain sheets tailored to your tooth, which will be glued to it using special cement and resins.

It should be noted that for the application of this type of veneer, it is necessary to make a mold of your mouth to get an exact impression and to be able to make the pieces to suit you later.

Differences between composite veneers and porcelain veneers

One of the main differences when talking about one type of veneer or another is the price. Composite veneers are cheaper than porcelain veneers; however, they are less resistant. In addition, due to their porous composition, they are more susceptible to staining and returning to their original color.

Advantages of dental veneers

Dental veneers are thin pieces of porcelain placed on the front of the teeth, helping improve aesthetic problems. They are the same color as the tooth, and best of all. They are semi-permanent.

Using dental veneers has many advantages. Here we highlight the most important ones:

1. If you have yellow teeth, this is a perfect solution for immediately whitening your smile.
2. If you have crooked teeth, veneers are a great option to improve the aesthetics of your teeth.
3. If the enamel of your teeth is worn, they can be a great alternative to hide or replace said enamel.
4. They are useful for correcting spaces between teeth.
5. The duration of the veneers is approximately between 10 and 15 years, which is why it is considered a semi-permanent treatment.
6. They are made of a strong material, so patients will not have to give up their favorite foods when using them.
7. If a part breaks, it can be easily repaired.

How are dental veneers placed?

The process for placing veneers is quite simple. However, it is essential to have a prior appointment with the dentist so that he can make an impression of the area to be treated to adjust the size of the porcelain pieces.

When the pieces are ready, it is necessary to file the tooth a little so that the porcelain fits correctly both to the tooth and the gum, and in this way, its presence is almost invisible. Then, to finish the process, each piece is glued to the tooth with resin cement.

It is important to know that the care of the pieces should be the same as that of the permanent teeth; you have to brush at least 2 times a day and floss daily.

Dental caps

A dental cover could be defined as a fixed prosthesis that is placed on top of your original tooth and serves to correct aesthetic or oral health aspects. This method is often confused with permanent veneers, but the difference is that the veneers only cover the front part of the tooth while the caps wrap the entire tooth.

The use of covers can have three uses:

• Replacement of missing teeth.
• Reinforcement of the tooth for being small, weakened, etc.
• For aesthetics, to perfect your smile.

For its placement, it is also necessary to previously file the natural tooth to reduce its size, and, in this way, the cover can be properly placed on this original tooth.

Types of covers

In the same way that it happens with dental veneers, we can find different types of covers, the best-known being:

The porcelain covers: Pure porcelain is a resistant and durable material that will give your tooth shape and color according to your needs.

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Ceramic covers: In their composition, there is no metal, which makes them more aesthetic. However, they are less resistant than those made of metal or zirconium.

Zirconium covers: They offer great resistance and very good results in terms of the final aesthetics of your smile. However, the main drawback is their high price. They are not that cheap, but they are the best option.

Metal-porcelain sheaths: First, the metal sheath is made and then covered with porcelain. They are the least aesthetic since the gum’s retraction often exposes the metal part of the cover.

Composite covers: They are the most economical covers; however, they are the least resistant. Normally, they are used provisionally until you choose another way to reshape your smile. This type of cover is not recommended for long-term use.

From Virginia dental care, we recommend that if you are thinking of improving the aesthetics of your smile or have oral health problems and want to undergo any of these treatments, ask us for help and advice. We will offer you all the possibilities within our reach so that your smile recovers that aspect you want. Trust and close treatment make us position ourselves as one of the best places to get a dentist in Arlington, VA. We will wait for you!