Oral Health›Dental visits and treatments

Crowns and Veneers: What They Are and What to Expect

A crown is a cap that covers the whole of a damaged tooth. A veneer is a thin layer fixed to the front of a tooth, mainly to change how it looks. Here is what each involves, how long they last and what to ask before cosmetic treatment.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·8 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • A crown is a cap that covers the whole of a tooth. It is often used for a tooth that is broken, badly decayed, weakened by a large filling, or has had root canal treatment.
  • A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or tooth-coloured composite fixed to the front of a tooth. Veneers are mainly used to change how teeth look.
  • Fitting a crown, and usually a veneer, means removing some natural tooth, which cannot be put back.
  • Crowns and veneers can last many years, but they can chip, crack or come loose, and the tooth underneath can still decay.
  • Dental bodies and regulators in the UK, Australia and the US urge caution with cosmetic treatment: check who is treating you, and talk to your own dentist before going abroad.

Crowns and veneers both cover natural teeth, but they do different jobs. The Australian Dental Association describes them as elective treatments (planned, not urgent) that can fix damaged teeth or change how teeth look. They can be done by a general dentist or by a prosthodontist, a specialist whose work, the Better Health Channel (Victoria) says, includes crowns, veneers, bridges and dentures.

What is a crown?

The Oral Health Foundation (UK) describes a crown as a custom-made cover that fits over the remaining part of a tooth to restore its shape, strength and appearance. Crowns are sometimes called caps, and are fixed in place.

When is a crown used?

The Oral Health Foundation says a crown may be recommended for a tooth that is badly damaged, broken, cracked or worn, weakened by a large filling, discoloured or uneven in shape, or has had root canal treatment. The American Dental Association adds that a crown can strengthen a tooth when there is not enough of it left to hold a filling. Crowns can also cover a dental implant or support a bridge (see replacing missing teeth).

The Australian Dental Association says crowns are common after root canal treatment, particularly on back teeth, and healthdirect Australia says delaying the final crown or filling after root canal treatment raises the chance of the tooth breaking or needing to be removed. See fillings and root canal treatment.

What are crowns made of?

The Australian Dental Association and healthdirect list porcelain, zirconia, gold alloy, or porcelain combined with metal, and say porcelain and zirconia can be colour-matched to your other teeth. The Oral Health Foundation says all-porcelain crowns look very natural but are not as strong, while gold crowns are very durable and usually used on back teeth.

How is a crown fitted?

It usually takes two visits (Australian Dental Association, healthdirect, Oral Health Foundation). At the first, the tooth is shaped to make room for the crown (healthdirect says a local anaesthetic may be used), an impression or digital scan is taken, and a temporary crown is fitted. A dental laboratory makes the crown, and at the second visit it is checked and cemented in place. Some clinics can make and fit certain crowns on the same day.

The Better Health Channel says removing tooth for a crown can sometimes get close to the pulp (the nerve and blood vessels inside the tooth), and the tooth may then need root canal treatment.

What is a veneer?

healthdirect describes veneers as thin covers of porcelain or composite resin fixed to the front of your teeth, which you cannot take off.

Are veneers cosmetic?

Mostly. healthdirect says veneers improve how teeth look and are not used to repair damage, although they can help restore worn teeth. They do not straighten teeth, fix your bite or fix tooth decay. The NHS says veneers are generally only available privately unless you can show a clinical need.

healthdirect, the Australian Dental Association and the Oral Health Foundation say veneers may help with teeth that are discoloured, chipped, slightly crooked, oddly shaped, or have small gaps. healthdirect suggests also asking about alternatives such as whitening or orthodontic treatment. See stained teeth and braces and aligners.

Porcelain or composite?

Composite is the tooth-coloured material used for white fillings, applied and shaped directly on the tooth, usually in one appointment (Australian Dental Association). The American Dental Association says composite veneers are easier to fix but less resistant to staining and wear. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory and usually need at least two appointments. healthdirect says they look more realistic and last longer, but cost more.

Who may not be suited to veneers?

healthdirect says veneers may not suit people who grind or clench their teeth or have gum disease. The American Dental Association says decay or gum disease must be treated first. See teeth grinding and gum disease.

Can crowns and veneers be undone?

For crowns, the Better Health Channel is clear: once a tooth is cut for a crown, it will always need a crown.

For veneers, sources describe the amount of tooth removed differently:

  • The American Dental Association says veneer treatment is not reversible, because enamel (the hard outer layer of the tooth) is removed.
  • The Better Health Channel says it can be irreversible: a tooth cut for a veneer may always need one.
  • The NHS says some veneers need the front of the tooth drilled away a little, but not all do. The Australian Dental Association says little or no tooth may need to be cut away.

Ask your dentist how much tooth will be removed. healthdirect lists other possible risks of veneers, including jaw pain, the veneer cracking or falling off, more sensitive teeth, the edges showing if your gums shrink back, and your other teeth changing colour so they no longer match.

How long do they last?

The Oral Health Foundation says crowns can last many years if well cared for, and healthdirect says veneers should last for years. But the Australian Dental Association stresses that a crown or veneer does not mean the tooth will never need treatment again: they can chip, fracture or stop matching your other teeth, and the tooth underneath can still decay.

To help them last:

  • Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth daily (Australian Dental Association, Oral Health Foundation).
  • Avoid biting ice or other hard objects (Oral Health Foundation) and your fingernails (American Dental Association).
  • Wear a sports mouthguard for activities that could injure your mouth (American Dental Association).
  • Keep having regular check-ups.

What to ask before cosmetic treatment

The Better Health Channel says to have your whole mouth checked first, so any disease is treated, and to ask what results can reasonably be expected, what it will cost and what the risks are.

In 2023 the Dental Board of Australia, which regulates dentists there, warned that procedures such as veneers can be major life-long undertakings and are not risk free, the Australian Dental Association reported.

In the US, the American Dental Association urges caution about "veneer technicians" who are not licensed dentists, warning of risks such as infection and nerve damage, and advises checking that your provider is licensed.

Having treatment abroad

Our full guide to dental treatment abroad covers checks, questions to ask and aftercare.

  • UK: the General Dental Council, the UK dental regulator, says other countries may not have a similar regulator or the same standards. It suggests talking to your own dentist first, and asking the clinic who will treat you, what aftercare they give, and who pays for travel and repairs if something goes wrong. The NHS warning signs include a hard sell, pressure to decide quickly, and no discussion of complications or aftercare.
  • In a British Dental Association survey, UK dentists named crowns as the treatment done abroad most likely to need follow-up work, closely followed by implants. Some reported teeth that had been over-prepared, with more tooth removed than necessary.
  • Australia: the Australian Dental Association's policy is that Australians should have elective dental treatment in Australia, and should talk to an Australian dentist before considering treatment overseas.

What do crowns and veneers cost?

England. The NHS lists crowns under Band 3, the highest of its three charge bands, and says you may be offered a metal-coloured crown on a back tooth. Veneers are generally private, and the Oral Health Foundation says your dental team should give you a clear estimate before treatment starts.

Australia. healthdirect says private health insurance extras may cover part of the cost of crowns and veneers, so check your policy. Porcelain veneers generally cost more than resin.

US. The American Dental Association says veneers are considered cosmetic, so insurance may not cover them unless they are medically necessary.

When to see a dentist
  • A crown or veneer feels loose, has come off, or is chipped or cracked. The NHS lists re-fixing crowns among the treatments available at an urgent dental appointment.
  • A crowned tooth hurts, you have trouble chewing, or the gum around it is sore or swollen (healthdirect).
  • Your bite does not feel right after a veneer is fitted: the American Dental Association says to tell your dentist.

Frequently asked questions

Can crowns and veneers be whitened?

No. The Better Health Channel says crowns and veneers do not whiten, and healthdirect says the colour of a veneer cannot be changed once it is fitted.

Can a tooth with a crown still decay?

Yes. healthdirect says the crown itself cannot decay, but the tooth underneath can, so cleaning your teeth and keeping your gums healthy still matters.

Can I get veneers on the NHS?

Generally not. The NHS says veneers are usually only available privately unless you can show a clinical need.

Sources

  1. Dental treatments, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. How much NHS dental treatment costs, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Treatment abroad checklist, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. What are dental crowns?, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  5. Veneers, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  6. Going abroad for dental treatment, General Dental Council, accessed September 2026
  7. UK dentists picking up the pieces from dental tourism boom, British Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  8. Crowns, bridges and veneers, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  9. Policy Statement 2.2.6: Elective overseas dental treatment, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  10. Caution urged by dental regulator around cosmetic dental procedures, Australian Dental Association, September 2023, accessed September 2026
  11. Dental crown procedure, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  12. Veneers, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  13. Cost of dental care, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  14. Cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  15. Crowns, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  16. Veneers, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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