Veneers vs. Crowns: What's Best for You?

When it comes to improving your smile, two popular options are veneers and crowns. Both can restore the look and function of teeth, but they work in different ways. At Larkham House Dental Practice in Plymouth, we help patients choose the treatment that suits their needs best. Here’s what you should know.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite material bonded to the front surface of your teeth.

They are ideal for cosmetic improvements.

Veneers can correct issues such as:

Chipped or uneven teeth
Small gaps
Discolouration or staining
Slight misalignment

Because veneers are placed on the front of the tooth, they require only minimal reshaping. This makes them a more conservative option.

What are Crowns?

A crown, also called a “cap,” covers the entire tooth.

Crowns are stronger and offer more protection than veneers.

They are recommended if you have:

Severely decayed teeth
Broken or heavily worn teeth
Root canal-treated teeth
Large fillings that weaken the tooth

Crowns are designed to restore both appearance and strength. They can be made from porcelain, ceramic, or a mix of materials.

Veneers vs. Crowns: The Key Differences

Feature	Veneers	Crowns
Purpose	Mainly cosmetic	Cosmetic + restorative
Tooth coverage	Front surface only	Entire tooth
Tooth prep	Minimal reshaping	More reshaping needed
Durability	Long-lasting but less protective	Very strong and protective
Best for	Stains, chips, small gaps, shape issues	Heavily damaged or weakened teeth

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on your dental health and goals:

Choose veneers if your teeth are healthy but you want to improve their shape, colour, or alignment.
Choose crowns if your teeth are weakened, broken, or need extra support.

At Larkham House Dental Practice, we carry out a full assessment, including X-rays if needed. We’ll talk you through your options and recommend the treatment that gives you the best balance of strength, appearance, and long-term protection.

Why Trust Larkham House?

Our experienced dentists in Plymouth provide both veneers and crowns with precision and care. We focus on natural results, using high-quality materials and modern techniques. Our goal is to give you a smile that looks good and lasts.

Book Your Consultation Today

If you’re considering veneers or crowns, let us help you make the best choice for your smile.

📞 Call us on 01752 343 140

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What do they say about Larkham House?

“Working with this team is always seamless and enjoyable—top marks all around”

SSD Group

“Thank to the dentist, dental nurse and reception staff for their care and friendliness on our last visit. Highly recommend this dental practice.”

Angela

“Great team and excellent service. Always very helpful and honest.”

Claire

“After being referred here by my old dentist for a dental implant. I ended up switching to here. So friendly, great what they do, easy to get an appointment, plenty of parking.”

Thomas

“I highly recommend Larkham House dentistry. As a very anxious person & fear of the dentist, they really look after you. I had Dr V Giddani for few visits what a caring Dentist he...”

MC

“We spent some time yesterday at Larkham House Dental Practice and received 100% treatment and care. The Reception Team, Dentist and Hygienist were excellent and we came away feeling very blessed. We look forward...”

Peter

“Never been disappointed there. Staff is friendly and they actually care. My dentist marko roberta (i think she's called), is so friendly and makes an appointment a breeze. The 2 people in the reception...”

Marco

Laura Johnson

19:36 24 Oct 22

Very friendly staff! I suffer with anxiety and every time I have an appointment the dentist is very patient and goes through everything to make sure I am OK and not too nervous. The dentist nurses, particularly Rachel is amazing! Especially with my children when they come in makes me feel at ease!

Teresa Floyd

08:16 21 Aug 22

Had a referral from Seven Trees as I had severe dental painI am a very nervous patient however the service I received was outstanding from the minute I arrived to the minute I left and no more tooth painThank you so much

Christine Boyle

20:10 07 Apr 22

Had an appointment with Clohe yesterday and I can't praise her enough. So thorough and nothing was too much trouble for her. She was very caring and cosiderat e I felt relaxed and nothing was too much of a problem for her too deal with. My appointment was not rushed .

Adam Davie

19:59 10 Oct 21

From the offset call confirming my appointment this dental practice experience was five star compared to dentist based Midlands . Front desk staff / nurses excellent giving me the reassurance that I was booked in with a great dentist as I personally have a fear of the dentist being in my late 30s . After my review etc with the dentist it was forgone conclusion that a full on extraction was required the dentist himself was unbelievable reassuring excellent service total professionalism which I haven’t come across recently, great team whom care about the patient journey I most certainly didn’t just feel like a number under their care . Thank you to all staff at Larkham House Dental Practice.

Anthony Grave

20:07 12 May 21

Very good

brian rogers

16:08 18 Mar 21

On the 18/3/21 I had 2 extractions From the outset the staff were very friendly helpful and very professional the Dentist was brilliant I never felt hardly any of the extractions I will definitely use a again excellent service thank you...

Veneers vs. Crowns: What’s Best for You?

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