Type of Dental Crowns — Discover What Is Best For You

Getting a dental crown sounds simple, but with so many types to choose from, it’s not as straightforward as it seems. 

The type of dental crowns varies depending on the material used for them. There are all-metal crowns, all-ceramic, and even combination crowns that use several different kinds of materials, such as porcelain and metal, to create the restoration.

Let’s take a closer look and discover the advantages and disadvantages of each to determine which is best for you and your smile.

 

Types of Dental Crowns 

 

Metal and Gold Crowns

All-metal dental crowns are usually made from gold, stainless steel, palladium, nickel, and chromium alloy. These crowns have a time-tested reputation for their toughness and durability. They hardly ever chip, making them an excellent option for restoring the back teeth.

However, because of their unsightly colour, they are used less often. They are also quite expensive compared to other options. 

 

All-Porcelain / Ceramic Crowns

This dental crown is one of the most popular with patients. Porcelain has similar translucent properties to tooth enamel, creating a beautiful, natural-looking restoration. As a result, porcelain or ceramic crowns are typically recommended when restoring a badly decayed or damaged front tooth. They are also metal-free, an excellent option for those with metal allergies.

However, porcelain dental crowns are not as strong as some other options. Furthermore, they can wear down the opposing natural teeth when biting or chewing.

 

Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) Crowns

Combining the durability of metal and the aesthetic properties of porcelain, PFM dental crowns seem like a perfect choice. They are made with a metal foundation and a porcelain outer covering, giving them reliable strength and a natural appearance. 

However, over time, the metal band can become visible as a dark line, which will affect the dental crown’s appearance, especially if placed for the front teeth. Fracture is also a common problem in the metal-porcelain interface. But because PFMs are cost-effective, they remain a popular choice for dental crowns.

 

Zirconia Crowns

One of the most significant advantages of a zirconia dental crown is its strength and durability, allowing it to cover the back teeth without worrying about fracturing. This strength makes it a great competitor for all-metal crowns in terms of longevity.

But perhaps the strength of zirconia is also its main disadvantage. Because it is so strong, it’s likely to cause wear to the enamel of the opposing teeth, and over time, they may also need restoration.

Now you know about the various types of dental crowns and their pros and cons, let’s take a look at how CEREC Technology can benefit patients. 

 

 

Advantages of Same-Day CEREC Dental Crowns 

Traditionally, a dental crown procedure involves a minimum of two dental visits with several weeks of waiting time. The first visit is to prepare the affected tooth and take an impression to send to the lab, which makes the custom crown. Then a temporary crown is placed over the tooth to protect it. The second dental visit is to remove the temporary crown and replace it with the custom permanent crown.

However, with CEREC crowns, the entire dental crown procedure is completed in just one appointment, eliminating the need for temporary crowns and waiting time. All aspects of design, custom fabrication (3D milling) and fitting are carried out in the dental practice while you wait., No Gaps Dental have embraced same-day dental crown treatment using CEREC technology to make treatments better, faster and more convenient for patients.

Utilising CEREC technology in the dental crown procedure improves accuracy and minimises mistakes that can otherwise affect the overall fit of the crown. Because of this, patients can expect CEREC crowns to deliver just as well as traditional crowns. They have reliable strength and premium aesthetics for dental crowns that closely resemble the surrounding teeth. 

 

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Type of Dental Crowns

When deciding on the type of dental crown to use in a particular situation, there are several essential factors to consider: 

 

• Appearance

If the dental crown is to restore a front tooth, aesthetics is a prime consideration. A crown can be shade-matched to the surrounding teeth to blend seamlessly into the smile. 

 

• Gum health

Some crowns have a metal component that can affect the health of the gum tissue, especially for those with known metal allergies. For this, it is best to use non-metal dental crowns to ensure the maintenance of gum and oral health.

 

• Durability

For a back tooth needing a dental crown procedure, a dentist will recommend a more durable material that can withstand heavy chewing forces, as this is a molar’s primary function.

Gold is highly durable and will not chip or fracture. Also, gold doesn’t wear down opposing teeth like some other materials. Although the colour puts some people off, gold lasts longer than any other type of dental crown.

 

• Teeth grinding

Awareness of your daily habits is also essential when figuring out which type of dental crowns are best for you. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), it’s best to keep away from porcelain or resin and lean towards metal dental crowns that are more durable.

 

• The reason for having a dental crown

If a dental crown is purely for cosmetic reasons, you may want to consider whether dental bonding or porcelain veneers may be a more appropriate and less invasive treatment. Crowns can be expensive and non-reversible, so be sure there isn’t a better solution before commencing a dental crown procedure.

 

Types of Dental Crowns: The Bottomline

Hopefully, with a better understanding of the type of dental crowns available, you are better positioned to choose one that’s best for you. Our friendly dentists will be happy to discuss your options based on aesthetics, strength and budget. 

To learn more about our dental crown treatments and how we can help preserve the function and beauty of your tooth, why not schedule a consultation with a No Gaps dental clinic near you. Call us on (02) 8007 6727 today.

 

 

 

 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

 

 

 

 

References

Gold Bulletin – Gold in Dentistry: Alloys, Uses and Performance
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/bf03215496.pdf

Healthline – How Does a Gold Crown Stack Up to Porcelain?
https://www.healthline.com/health/gold-crown-tooth#cost

Healthline – How Long Can You Expect a Dental Crown to Last?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-a-crown-last

Scientific Research Open Access – Porcelain fracture of metal-ceramic tooth-supported and implant-supported restorations: A review
https://www.scirp.org/html/39630.html

Healthline – What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns Made from Zirconia
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-you-need-to-know-about-dental-crowns-made-from-zirconia

PubMed – The wear of polished and glazed zirconia against enamel
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23328193/#:~:text=For%20enamel%20antagonists%2C%20polished%20zirconia,veneering%20porcelain%20demonstrated%20the%20most.

PubMed – CEREC CAD/CAM Chairside System
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4402686/

PubMed – Allergic reactions associated with metal alloys in porcelain-fused-to-metal fixed prosthodontic devices-A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23115766/