Types Of Porcelain Crowns

19 November 2014
 Categories: Dentist, Blog


Crowns can vary quite a bit, but what they all share in common is that they encapsulate or cover a tooth or implant. This is different from veneers since they are a complete replacement of the surface area of the tooth, rather than a thin surface covering for the sake of protecting or improving the aesthetics of an otherwise decent tooth.

Crowns are usually necessary when a tooth has been structurally compromised, needs to be restored--or, similar to some forms of dentures, is being mounted as part of an implant. Because of the complexity of the procedures and materials necessary, crowns tend to be relatively expensive. 

When it comes to crowns, there are several main types--ranging from all ceramic, various metals, and anything in-between.

All-Metal/"Gold" Crowns:

The classic metal crown is made from a variety of metals and alloys, most of which involve gold. These are among the most durable since they are a solid piece and do not wear down opposing teeth, although these depend on the properties the particular metal choice offers. The only downside is that they are obviously artificial in appearance. Because of this, they aren't usually placed in high-visibility areas, such as the front of the mouth.

Porcelain Crowns:

As the name implies, porcelain crowns are constructed entirely of various kinds of dental ceramic engineered specifically for this purpose. There is no better looking crown available, as the color and translucency of all-ceramic crowns like Zirconia are practically indistinguishable to the real thing. This makes it absolutely amazing for a high-profile tooth, such as a canine or incisor. The only drawback is that their durability isn't quite as high as either all-metal crowns or PFM crowns. However, it's worth noting that this depends on the individual, since some porcelain crowns have survived 50+ years with no problems. As a result, it would be best to defer to your dentist's judgment in regards to this option.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal Crowns:

And then we have porcelain-fused-to-metal-crowns, which are basically hybrids of the previous two methods that involve ceramic or porcelain veneers over a metallic core. These offer many of the benefits of both worlds, with as few of the shortcomings as possible. They are strong, durable, and natural-looking, which makes them great for any tooth. However, the biggest downside is that most reveal a thin dark line along the gum line where the crown ends, which can be seen if your gum line recedes. They're also capable of wearing opposing teeth, or even chipping. However, the risk of chipping only applies to the ceramic veneer rather than the metal core, so there's minimal risk for structural complications. 


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