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Veneers vs crowns, explained simply

Both change how a tooth looks, but they do different jobs. Here's how they compare, and where click in veneers fit.

Click in veneers in Natural WhiteOur click in veneers

Click in veneers, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic from £399, or by post from £199.

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The difference between veneers and crowns

A veneer is a thin covering fixed to the front of a tooth; the Oral Health Foundation compares it to a false nail. Usually porcelain or composite, it changes the colour, shape or small gaps of front teeth.

A crown, or cap, fits over the whole tooth and restores its shape, strength and look. It's fixed and can't be removed. Crowns can be porcelain bonded to metal, all porcelain, ceramic or gold.

In short: a veneer is mainly cosmetic; a crown mainly protects a weak or damaged tooth, with a better look as a bonus.

How a veneer and a crown sit on a tooth

A veneer covers the front face only. A crown wraps the whole visible tooth.

How much tooth does each one remove?

For a porcelain veneer, a small amount of enamel is removed from the front so it isn't bulky. An impression goes to a lab and the veneer is bonded on at a second visit.

For a crown, the tooth is shaped all the way round, with a temporary crown while the final one is made. More tooth is shaped than for a veneer.

Enamel doesn't grow back, so a shaped tooth needs a covering from then on. Think carefully if your teeth are healthy and the change is only cosmetic.

Veneers vs crowns vs click in veneers

The three options side by side. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.

Porcelain veneer
Crown
Click in veneers
Covers whole tooth
Tooth kept as it is
Partly
Strengthens tooth
Removable
On the NHS
Usually private
When needed
Typical cost
About £960 a tooth
Varies; NHS Band 3
From £199 an arch

Veneer: Bupa average. Crown: NHS England Band 3; check nhs.uk or nhsinform.scot. Private crown prices vary.

When a crown is needed instead of a veneer

The Oral Health Foundation lists the usual reasons for a crown: a tooth that's badly damaged or broken, weakened by a large filling, root treated (had a root canal), or worn down or cracked. A veneer alone wouldn't protect it.

Veneers suit sound teeth you'd like to look different: stains whitening can't shift, chipped or worn edges, small gaps, or uneven teeth.

Only a dentist can say which your tooth needs, often after an X ray. If a tooth needs a crown to protect it, that's a health decision, not a cosmetic one.

What veneers and crowns cost

Veneers are usually private. Bupa's range is £610 to £1,290 a tooth, so a full smile can run into thousands.

Crowns are on the NHS when clinically needed. In Scotland, NHS inform lists charges: you pay a share up to a cap per course, and some people pay nothing. Private crowns cost more.

The Oral Health Foundation says veneers can chip, crack or come loose. Your dentist can advise what to expect for your teeth.

A hand holding a click in veneerOur click in veneers

Where removable click in veneers fit

Click in veneers are thin, removable covers made from impressions that clip over your own teeth. Nothing is drilled, filed or glued, so your teeth stay as they are.

They're for looks only: they cover stains, chips, gaps and uneven teeth. Most people take them out for meals and to sleep, and they usually last 6 to 18 months, depending on the person. Not suitable with loose teeth, braces or severe gum problems.

People use them to try a new smile before anything fixed, to cover up while saving or waiting for dental work, or to avoid shaping healthy teeth.

What click in veneers can't do

We're a dental lab, not a dentist. Once teeth are healthy, click in veneers can be a removable cover.

  • Protect or strengthen a cracked, broken or heavily filled tooth
  • Replace a crown that a dentist says you need
  • Treat decay, infection or gum disease underneath

Try click in veneers

Same day near Glasgow with your shade picked in person, or by post with an impression kit sent to you.

A woman clicking in her veneersOur click in veneers
Same day at our clinic
£399one arch, £599 both
  • Ready in about 4 hours at our clinic
  • Impressions taken with our team
  • Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic
Book a time
By post
£199one arch, £299 both
  • Made in 3 days once we receive your impressions
  • Impression kit sent to your door
  • Made in our UK lab
Order by post

£25 to book a same day visit, taken off your total and refunded if you cancel 24 hours or more before. Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic: 18 or over, subject to approval. Late fees may apply. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may affect your ability to get credit.

Questions people ask

Something else? Send us a message.

Which lasts longer, a veneer or a crown?

Both can last many years with good care, according to the Oral Health Foundation. How long depends on your teeth, your habits and the material. Your dentist can give you a better idea for your own mouth.

Is a crown or a veneer cheaper?

On the NHS, a crown can cost less than a private veneer because crowns are covered when clinically needed and veneers usually aren't. Privately, prices vary by material and practice.

Do veneers and crowns damage your teeth?

Porcelain veneers and crowns both mean shaping the tooth for good, which is why the choice matters most for healthy teeth. Click in veneers need no shaping at all.

Can veneers or crowns be whitened?

No. The Oral Health Foundation says whitening doesn't work on crowns or veneers. If you plan to whiten, it's usually done before new dental work so it can be matched.

Do I need a dentist for click in veneers?

You don't need a referral. But your teeth and gums should be healthy, so see a dentist first if you have pain, decay or loose teeth.

A new smile, nothing drilled.

Click in veneers, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic near Glasgow, or by post to your door.

About this guide

Written by the team at our UK dental lab, where GDC registered technicians make every appliance. We are a dental lab, not a dentist: we make cosmetic and protective appliances and cannot diagnose or treat dental problems. If you are unsure, see a dentist first.

Written by the Venneir lab team. Updated 12 Nov 2026.

Sources