Similar to a crown, a veneer is a thin covering on only the front surface on a tooth (a crown has 360 degree coverage). It is more conservative than a crown as less tooth structure is removed. However a porcelain veneer is usually restricted to teeth that have sound enamel otherwise they will not bond i.e. stick to the tooth.
Whether a tooth is better served with a veneer or a crown really depends on the condition of the tooth and what issue we are striving to rectify. Both veneers and crowns can be shade matched to your original teeth or can be changed to be brighter depending on the outcome you are after.
