Veneers vs. Dental Crowns in San Marcos, TX: How To Choose

As a full-service dental practice, Aqua Springs Dental offers both porcelain veneers and dental crowns. While the two may seem similar at first glance—and social media often confuses them—these treatments serve different purposes. Understanding the nuances can help you make an informed decision about which is best for you. Check out what our dentists in San Marcos, TX, have to say about both treatments.

What Are Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. Our cosmetic dentist at Aqua Springs Dental shaves off a thin layer of enamel to make room for the shells. If you’re getting veneers on just some teeth, we custom-make them to match the color of your other teeth. If you’re going for a smile makeover, we can place veneers on a full arch of teeth and opt for a brighter color for a teeth whitening effect. Either way, veneers provide a more aesthetic appearance and address discoloration, minor misalignment, gaps, or chips. They can last over a decade with proper maintenance.

What Are Crowns?

Dental crowns in San Marcos, TX, involve reducing your tooth to a smaller size so that the crown can fit securely over it. That means that crowns encapsulate the entire tooth structure. This is why you’ll sometimes hear them referred to as "caps." Crowns restore a tooth's shape, size, strength, and appearance. They are often used after significant damage or decay, following root canals, or to cap dental implants. Crowns can last longer than veneers since they cover the whole tooth and are specifically designed to add strength and durability to your natural teeth.

Which Is Better For Cosmetic Care?

Both veneers and dental crowns enhance your smile’s appearance. After all, they both cover up flaws, even out tooth shape, and whiten your smile. However, we use dental crowns because of their restorative benefits, whereas veneers are ideal for cosmetic corrections. A big reason for this is because veneers are far less invasive. They are, essentially, facades for your teeth and leave the natural structure of your tooth intact. If all you want is an improved look, why mess with the underlying integrity of your teeth?The Cleveland Clinic even points out that the purpose of crowns is to treat problems like broken or decayed teeth. In fact, tooth crowns help protect and strengthen teeth that are too compromised for more conservative treatments like fillings or inlays. As a result, despite what you might see on social media, covering a full arch of teeth with crowns for purely aesthetic purposes isn’t ideal. Not only are they just for aesthetics, crowns are for advanced oral health care.

Get a Custom Consult with Our Dentists in San Marcos, TX

Choosing between veneers and dental crowns depends on your oral health, goals, and budget. Veneers may be the right choice for cosmetic enhancement, while crowns are preferable for restoring a compromised tooth. Rather than trusting in what social media tells you, get advice from an expert at Aqua Springs Dental. Contact us for an appointment today about meeting your aesthetic and wellness goals.