What to Consider When Choosing a Dental Crown

Cavities, injury, and gum disease all cause permanent harm to your teeth. You may need a large filling, root canal, or dental implant. In all of these cases, you will require a dental crown! This restores a strong bite, improves the aesthetics of your smile, and helps you to eat without pain.

There are numerous dental crown options to select from. Some provide a more natural appearance, while others give the required durability.

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a synthetic cap that is put on the top of a broken tooth or a dental implant. If you have had a severe cavity, tooth extraction, broken tooth, or root canal, your dentist may recommend a dental crown. Crowns can also replace big fillings and assist in correcting your bite.

If your tooth has been extracted, your dentist will replace it with a dental implant that is fastened directly into the jaw. In this situation, the dental crown is attached to the base of the dental implant. Dental crowns, on the other hand, can be put on natural teeth if enough of them remain.

The Types of Dental Crowns

Metal (Gold)

Metal crowns appear to be gold but constructed of copper and other metals. These crowns are extremely robust and durable, yet pliable enough not to damage your other teeth. Furthermore, metal crowns wear down slowly and can last long with adequate maintenance.

Despite these advantages, metal crowns are not suitable for everyone. Many people are naturally hesitant to wear gold teeth! As a result, metal crowns are most commonly utilized on back teeth (such as secondary molars), where the gold is less obvious. In this manner, you can benefit from the metal crown's durability without sacrificing the aesthetics of your teeth.

Porcelain

Porcelain crowns, unlike metal crowns, have a more natural appearance, making them a popular choice. They are designed to closely imitate the color of your teeth while also matching their form and size. As a result, porcelain crowns are suitable for front tooth restorations.

Unfortunately, porcelain crowns are not as durable as some of the other alternatives. They are prone to chipping, making them an unsuitable choice for molars.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)

PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) crowns offer both aesthetics and strength. The exterior is porcelain for a natural appearance, while the interior of the crown is a metal amalgam for longevity. These crowns are sturdy, flexible, aesthetically attractive, and less likely to chip than pure porcelain.

If you have gum recession, PFM may not be the ideal solution for you. This is because the metal basis of the crown can be visible if your gums recede. You may detect a grey line around the gum line.

Composite

Composite crowns are made of resin and appear naturally off-white. Composite crowns, while less likely to chip than porcelain crowns, are not as durable when subjected to repeated chewing. They also wear down quickly from daily brushing, which impairs the aesthetics of the crown and can cause discoloration.

Zirconia

Zirconia is a modern crown material that is both durable and attractive. They are long-lasting, durable, and unlikely to chip or break. However, zirconia crowns can be overly strong, wearing down your other teeth.

E-Max (Lithium Distillate)

E-Max is a ceramic crown with a natural appearance and durability. Because of their natural appearance and strength, they can be used on both front and back teeth. They are also more expensive than standard dental crowns.

Determining the Best Crown for You

Appearance

Most people prioritize having a natural, bright, and beautiful grin. Consequently, the appearance of the dental crown is significant. This is especially true if a crown is required for one of the front teeth. As a result, a gold tooth is unlikely to be your first preference.

Brushing frequently causes composite crowns to discolor, making them unsuitable for front teeth. Porcelain is the most preferred choice due to its natural appearance.

Durability

Intensive chewing might destroy weaker dental crowns. Thus, porcelain is a bad choice for molars, while metal is the ideal material for the innermost top and bottom molars. Metal is extremely strong and can resist the stress of chewing. PFM can also be used for molars in some situations. If you clench or grind your teeth, you should consider a stronger dental crown.

Cost

The cost of dental crowns varies according to the material used and the complexity of the process. Typically, porcelain, zirconia, and E-Max are the most expensive selections. PFM is typically the most cost-effective option, with metal crowns falling halfway in between.