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How are Esthetic Crowns and Veneers Different? Your Beaverton, OR Cosmetic Dentist Explains

  • Writer: Farmington Dental Care
    Farmington Dental Care
  • Apr 6, 2021
  • 2 min read

Updated: Nov 30, 2021

“Which is better, veneers or crowns?” We hear this question often, and the answer depends on each person’s unique dental needs and desires. Though porcelain veneers and crowns are both dental restorations with roughly similar processes, design stages, and lifespans (typically 10 or more years with proper oral hygiene and care), they are different in several key ways.


Farmington Dental Care in Beaverton, OR 97005 Implants, Family, Cosmetic Dentist - Dental Checkup, Cleaning & Examinations, Crowns, Bridges, Implants, Restorations, Veneers & Laminates, Bonding, Fillings, Dentures, Partial Dentures, Teeth Whitening, Tooth Extractions, Kid Friendly Dentist, Periodontics, Root Canal Therapy, Sedation, Inlays & Onlays, Dental Sealants, Oral Cancer Screening

A Dental Veneer:

-Covers the front of a tooth only.

-Is custom-made for your smile and usually made of porcelain.

-Leaves most of a tooth’s existing structure intact - only a very small portion of the front of the tooth must be removed to fit the veneer over the tooth securely.

-Is primarily used for cosmetic changes, such as: changing discolored teeth, closing gaps between teeth, altering the shape of teeth, and correcting minor chips.

-Because veneers are primarily used for aesthetic purposes, they are unlikely to be covered by dental insurance.


Farmington Dental Care in Beaverton, OR 97005 Implants, Family, Cosmetic Dentist - Dental Checkup, Cleaning & Examinations, Crowns, Bridges, Implants, Restorations, Veneers & Laminates, Bonding, Fillings, Dentures, Partial Dentures, Teeth Whitening, Tooth Extractions, Kid Friendly Dentist, Periodontics, Root Canal Therapy, Sedation, Inlays & Onlays, Dental Sealants, Oral Cancer Screening

A Dental Crown:

-Completely covers the entire tooth.

-Is also custom-made for your smile, and can be made of a variety of materials including: porcelain, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), or all-metal alloys like gold and silver.

-Requires a significant portion of the tooth to be removed and reshaped in order to fit the crown over it.

-Is ideal for restoring and protecting teeth with structural damage, such as: cracked and broken teeth, decayed or weakened teeth, and restorations for root canals and implants.

-Because dental crowns are used for functional as well as aesthetic purposes, they are more likely to be covered by dental insurance.


If you are interested in improving your smile with veneers or crowns, ask yourself (and your dentist!) the following questions:

How much of my tooth is intact?

What dental issues do I want the veneer or crown to fix?

Are they mainly cosmetic improvements, or does the restoration also need to improve the strength and/or function of my teeth?


Still unsure whether crowns or veneers are the best option for you? Call us at (503) 644-1126 and we will be happy to help!



3 Comments


David Raynolds
David Raynolds
Jul 20

This blog feels genuinely written from personal experience rather than just for promotion. I appreciated the simple explanation of crowns and bridges versus veneers, which made it much easier to understand the differences before considering treatment

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John Jethro
John Jethro
Jun 19

I always thought veneers and crowns were basically the same until my dentist explained which option matched my damaged tooth better. Understanding the difference helped me feel less nervous before treatment and more confident about the final result. While comparing cosmetic procedures, I also visited http://levydentalarts.com/cosmetic-dentistry/ to learn more. My restored tooth now blends naturally with the rest of my smile.

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Declan Reed
Declan Reed
Aug 29, 2025

For anyone in the Kellyville area looking for expert cosmetic dental care, I recommend checking out Kellyville Dentist they offer a full range of services including esthetic crowns, veneers, and other cosmetic dental treatments. If you’re considering improving your smile, the team at Dentist Kellyville can provide personalized advice and high-quality results.

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