Veneers vs crowns

A veneer covers only the front of a tooth and removes minimal enamel, while a crown caps the entire tooth and removes much more structure. Veneers are for cosmetic improvement of healthy teeth; crowns are for teeth that are weak, broken or heavily filled. In Turkey, veneers cost around £180–£350 per tooth and crowns around £200–£380, so the decision is clinical rather than financial.

The key difference

Think of a veneer as a thin facing — like a false fingernail bonded to the front of the tooth, removing only 0.3–0.7mm of enamel. A crown is a full cap that sleeves over the whole tooth, which means trimming the tooth down on every side. That makes crowns far more invasive, but also far stronger, because they hold a fragile tooth together.

When a veneer is the right choice

• The tooth is fundamentally healthy and largely intact
• You want to change colour, shape, minor alignment or close small gaps
• You want to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible

When a crown is the right choice

• The tooth is cracked, heavily worn or broken down
• It has a large filling or has had root canal treatment
• It needs to bear heavy biting force, such as a back tooth

Veneers vs crowns side by side

A word of caution about "veneers" that are really crowns

Some clinics market a "Hollywood smile" that is actually a full set of crowns, because crowns are quicker to fit on misaligned teeth. Crowns can be the right answer where teeth are worn or crooked — but for healthy teeth, a true veneer preserves far more of your natural structure. Always ask exactly which treatment is being proposed and why. A specialist prosthodontist such as Dr. Sadık Taki at Taki Dent will recommend the most conservative option that achieves your goal, and explain the reasoning. See also our guide to the Hollywood smile and whether veneers are safe.