South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Veneers or crowns: how much of the tooth needs covering?
A veneer and a crown can look identical from the front, which is why the two are so often confused. The difference is in how much of the tooth each one wraps. A veneer is a thin facing bonded to the front surface only, designed to improve the look of a tooth that is otherwise sound. A crown encircles the whole tooth above the gum, and exists to hold together a tooth that has been weakened by decay, fracture, a large filling or root canal treatment. Choosing between them is therefore less about appearance and more about the condition of the tooth underneath.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Veneers if…
- The tooth is intact or has only a small filling.
- You want to change colour, shape or edge position rather than rebuild strength.
- You would like to keep as much natural enamel as possible.
- You are treating several front teeth for a consistent appearance.
Choose Crowns if…
- A large part of the tooth is already filling material.
- The tooth is cracked, badly worn or has broken a corner off more than once.
- The tooth has been root-treated and needs reinforcing.
- You grind or clench heavily and a facing alone is likely to fail.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Veneers | Crowns |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Improve the appearance of a sound tooth | Protect and rebuild a compromised tooth |
| Coverage | Front surface and edge only | All surfaces above the gum line |
| Tooth reduction | Minimal (composite) to around half a millimetre (porcelain) | One to two millimetres from every side |
| Appointments | One for composite; two or more for porcelain | Usually two, with a temporary crown in between |
| Strength added | Little; relies on the tooth beneath | Substantial; holds the tooth together under load |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | From £595 (composite) or £1,095 (porcelain) per tooth | From £995 per crown |
| How long it lasts | 5 to 10 years (composite); 10 to 20 years (porcelain) | Around 10 to 15 years or more |
| Appearance | Very natural; translucent porcelain resembles enamel | Good to very good depending on the material |
| Best suited to | Healthy front teeth needing cosmetic refinement | Damaged, heavily filled or root-treated teeth |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Veneers
The dentist first confirms that the tooth is sound enough to support a facing, checking for cracks, large fillings and the way the teeth meet. For a composite veneer the enamel is lightly roughened and the resin is sculpted and cured directly in one visit. For porcelain, a fine layer of enamel is removed from the front of the tooth under local anaesthetic, a scan is taken and a temporary is fitted while the ceramist makes the veneer. At the second appointment the veneer is tried in for fit and shade, then bonded with a resin cement and cured. Because so little tooth is removed, the procedure is generally comfortable, and the bond to enamel is what gives the veneer its strength.
Crowns
Preparing a tooth for a crown involves removing decay and any failing filling, then reducing the tooth on every side by one to two millimetres so the crown has room to sit without looking bulky. Where too little tooth remains, a core is built up first, and a root-treated tooth may need a post to anchor it. A scan or impression is sent to the laboratory and a temporary crown protects the tooth for one to two weeks. At the fitting visit the new crown, in zirconia, layered porcelain or another ceramic, is checked for fit, contact with the neighbours and bite, then cemented. A short review afterwards ensures the gum has settled and the bite is comfortable.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
Veneers at Wimpole Street will start from £595 per tooth in composite and £1,095 per tooth in porcelain. Crowns will start from £995 per tooth, so a porcelain veneer and a crown sit in a similar price bracket, with composite veneers noticeably cheaper.
The fee is rarely the deciding factor here because the two treat different situations. A crown placed on a healthy tooth removes more enamel than necessary, while a veneer placed on a weakened tooth is likely to fail early and cost more in the end. Longevity is broadly comparable: porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 20 years, crowns 10 to 15 or more, and composite veneers 5 to 10. Any root canal treatment, core build-up or post needed before a crown is charged separately and listed in the written plan.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Veneers
Strengths
- Keeps most of the natural tooth
- Excellent translucency, especially in porcelain
- Composite can be finished in one visit
- Ideal for changing shape and colour across several teeth
- Lower fee in composite
Trade-offs
- Adds little strength to the tooth
- Unsuitable for heavily filled or cracked teeth
- Can chip or debond under grinding
- Porcelain preparation is irreversible
- Composite gradually stains
Crowns
Strengths
- Holds a weakened tooth together
- Protects root-treated teeth from fracture
- Withstands heavy biting forces
- Suitable for front and back teeth
- Lifespan of 10 to 15 years or more
Trade-offs
- Considerably more tooth removed
- Two visits with a temporary in between
- Higher fee than composite veneers
- Gum margin can show if the gum recedes
- Preparation cannot be reversed
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. Modern all-ceramic crowns, particularly layered porcelain and high-translucency zirconia, can match neighbouring teeth closely. The extra preparation gives the ceramist more room to build in depth of colour, so a well-made front crown is very hard to spot.
Root canal treatment leaves the tooth hollowed and drier, and therefore more prone to splitting. A veneer only covers the front face and offers no protection against a crack running through the tooth. A crown wraps all sides and spreads chewing forces across the whole tooth.
Yes. Because a veneer removes so little enamel, the tooth can be prepared for a crown at a later date if a fracture or large cavity develops. The reverse is not possible: once a tooth has been reduced for a crown it will always need a crown.
If you grind or clench, a guard is advisable with both, but especially with veneers, since heavy lateral forces can chip or debond a facing. A crown is more robust, though a guard still helps protect it and the opposing teeth.
Crowns, because more dentine is exposed during preparation. Sensitivity to cold usually settles within a few weeks once the crown is cemented. Veneer preparation stays within enamel where possible, so sensitivity is uncommon and brief.
Yes. Veneer and crown assessments are carried out now at South Kensington and St Paul’s with the same clinicians and fee schedule. Treatment begun there can be reviewed at Wimpole Street once it opens on 1 October 2026.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
