A veneer is a thin ceramic shell bonded to the front of a healthy tooth, with 0.6 to 0.8 mm of the tooth filed away. A crown covers the whole tooth and is the right choice when a tooth has a large filling, has had a root canal, or needs a big change in colour or position. So the question is not which is better, but what each of your teeth needs. Often the best result is a mix: crowns where they are unavoidable, veneers where they are enough. At TB Dent in Trebinje, a ceramic veneer costs €245 per tooth and a zirconia crown €230.
What is the difference between a veneer and a crown?
The difference is how much of the tooth they cover and how much of the tooth has to be filed. A veneer covers only the front surface, so the tooth is filed minimally. A crown is a cap over the whole tooth, so the tooth is filed on all sides. Both change shape and colour, and both are made of ceramic, which does not change colour over time.
How much is a tooth filed for a veneer?
For a ceramic veneer, we file 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Less than 0.6 mm is not technically possible, because the veneer needs that thickness to be strong and to look natural. Filing is irreversible: once a tooth has been filed, it will always need a veneer or a crown.
Are there veneers with no filing?
Ceramic veneers with no filing are almost never possible. "Lumineers" sold online as no-prep veneers are simply another name for veneers. Without filing, we can only do composite veneers, using an injection technique, for small changes in shape. They cannot achieve a bigger change in colour or position, and they do not last as long.
When do we recommend a veneer, and when a crown?
At TB Dent we recommend veneers when your teeth are healthy, with only small fillings, and you want a different shape, size or colour. We recommend crowns when a tooth has a large filling, has had a root canal, or needs a significant change in colour or position. Whatever is healthy, we try not to file.
Can I have veneers if I grind my teeth?
No. If you grind or clench your teeth (bruxism), veneers are not suitable, because the force can break them off. In that case we make crowns, which cover the whole tooth and take more load.
Can veneers and crowns be combined?
Yes, and in practice it is a common choice. Teeth that have to be filed because of large fillings or a root canal get crowns; healthy teeth get veneers with minimal filing. That keeps as much healthy tooth as possible, and the smile still looks even.
Will you file healthy teeth down for crowns?
No, and it is a fair question to ask any clinic, at home or abroad. Many people have read about patients whose healthy teeth were filed down for a full set of crowns. At TB Dent, healthy teeth get veneers or are left alone.
The most common case is crooked teeth that a patient would like to "straighten" with crowns. Then we recommend braces first, and afterwards most patients do not need any filing at all. If small corrections remain, they are done with composite veneers, without filing. When a tooth is missing and the teeth next to it are healthy, an implant is a wiser choice than filing two healthy teeth for a bridge.
Which lasts longer and costs more?
Ceramic veneers and crowns both last more than ten years with good care and regular check-ups. Composite veneers last much less and need more frequent polishing and repairs. At TB Dent the price difference between ceramic options is small, so the condition of the tooth decides, not the price:
- ceramic veneer: €245 (480 KM) per tooth
- E.max crown: €245 (480 KM), for top aesthetics on front teeth
- zirconia crown: €230 (450 KM), very strong, for large fillings, root-canal-treated teeth and bigger colour changes
- porcelain-fused-to-metal crown: €128 (250 KM), when aesthetics are not the priority
All work comes with a five-year guarantee with regular check-ups. Our veneers and crowns are made by the partner laboratory of the Jurišić polyclinic in Mostar.
What if a veneer comes off or breaks?
Only that one is replaced, not the whole set, and within the guarantee you pay nothing. We work digitally and keep your models for years, so a new veneer or crown is made in one day, without new scans. What to do if it happens after you fly home is explained in Dental work abroad: what happens after you return home?
Can veneers or crowns be done in one trip?
Yes. For patients from abroad, veneers or crowns can be finished in one stay of three to five working days, if the appointment is arranged in advance and all teeth are already in good condition (fillings done, tartar removed, gums healthy). If that work is needed first, it is charged separately.
The treatment takes three visits:
- Filing, scanning and temporary teeth, two to three hours. You never leave without teeth.
- Try-in, half an hour to an hour.
- Fitting the final veneers or crowns, about an hour to an hour and a half.
Everything is done under local anaesthesia. For the few days in between, your teeth may be slightly sensitive to cold and sweet things; this passes once the final work is cemented. One of our patients from Switzerland had 28 zirconia crowns, 14 upper and 14 lower, in three visits over five days.
How do I know what I need before I travel?
Before anything is filed, you see your new smile twice: first as a digital simulation in Smile Cloud, then as a trial smile (mock-up) in your own mouth. The design is made by the dentist and the dental technician together, based on what you want.
You can get the simulation before you book a flight. Send us a few photos of your smile and a panoramic X-ray (OPG) on WhatsApp. The design and simulation are included in the price if we do the work; you pay for them only if you decide not to go ahead.
How to get to Trebinje, 40 minutes from Dubrovnik, and what other treatments cost is in our guide to dental tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This article is also available in German.
Common questions about veneers and crowns
Which is better, veneers or crowns?
It depends on the tooth. Veneers are better for healthy teeth that need a new shape and colour, because less tooth is filed. Crowns are better for teeth with large fillings, root-canal-treated teeth, and for people who grind their teeth.
How much tooth is removed for a veneer?
0.6 to 0.8 mm. Less than 0.6 mm is not technically possible, and the filing is irreversible.
How long do ceramic veneers last?
More than ten years with good care and regular check-ups. Composite veneers last much less.
Can I get veneers if I grind my teeth?
No. With bruxism, veneers are not suitable, so we make crowns instead.
How much do veneers and crowns cost at TB Dent?
A ceramic veneer and an E.max crown cost €245 per tooth, a zirconia crown €230 and a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown €128.
Do veneers and crowns change colour over time?
No. Ceramic does not change colour, and the cements we use do not change colour or texture either.
Can I have veneers or crowns done in one trip?
Yes, in three to five working days, if the appointment is arranged in advance and your teeth are already in good condition.
