Top 6 Types of Dental Crown Material

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that cover a permanent tooth, which has sustained damage from decay, injury, or disease. They come in two varieties:

●     Permanent crowns

●     Temporary crowns

Crowns are also useful in improving the appearance of your smile while protecting other teeth from further damage. A permanent crown can consist of a variety of materials, with porcelain, metal, or resin crowns being the most well-known dental crown material options.

Why Do I Need Dental Crowns?

Everyone's teeth will sustain damage over time. This damage can happen due to many reasons, including natural wear and tear, tooth decay, and dental trauma.

Teeth lose their shape and size in the process. Dental crowns not only restore the strength and appearance of teeth but also prevent further decay.

A crown is also helpful for:

●     Covering a dental implant

●     Covering a tooth that has had root canal treatment

●     Covering a worn-down tooth with a large filling

●     Covering misshapen or severely discolored teeth

●     Protecting a weak tooth from breaking

●     Restoring a worn-down or broken tooth

●     Securing a dental bridge

When it comes to dental health, the placement of your crown plays a major role. Your dentist will most likely fabricate a temporary dental crown to protect the prepared tooth while waiting for the fabrication of your permanent crown.

However, a temporary crown can last for over four years. Permanent dental crowns can last for five to 10 years if you take good care of them. Some crowns even have a lifespan of up to 30 years.

Dentists will recommend different types of dental crowns based on your needs, preferences, and budget. Your dentist may have to do a root canal and check your gum line before your dental crown procedure if there are signs of decay. Your newly crowned tooth may feel sensitive as the anesthesia wears off, but you will soon be enjoying a beautiful, healthy tooth.

6 Best Materials for Dental Crowns

Porcelain and Ceramic Crowns

Porcelain or ceramic crowns are great for your front teeth. They match the shape, size, and color of your surrounding teeth very well, so they look completely natural when placed over the entire tooth.

They come in two forms:

●     All-ceramic crowns

●     Pressed ceramic dental crowns

A ceramic dental crown is also very easy to clean because there is no metal on the sides to trap dirt. Because they contain no metal, they are also non-toxic, ideal for patients with metal allergies. Porcelain crowns make affordable long-term options because they resist cracks more than any other crown.

Full Metal Crowns

A metal crown is an ideal long-term material to protect your teeth. Metal crowns rarely chip, are easy to remove, and are the most tolerant crown types to biting and chewing forces.

Gold crowns, in particular, gained popularity in the 80s and 90s. Although known as gold crowns, these crowns actually consist of a gold alloy combined with other metals.

For adults, a silver or gold crown is best as it preserves more of the healthy tooth structure and is gentle on opposing teeth. It has the advantage of wearing down slowly over the natural tooth, which makes them an excellent long-term option. Although ideal for restoring out-of-sight molars, they do not make for trendy choices for front teeth today.

A pediatric dentist will most likely recommend a full metal stainless steel crown for children. Stainless steel crowns are prefabricated, reducing the need for children to go under general anesthesia.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

The closest alternative to gold crowns (porcelain-fused-to-metal or PFM dental crowns) offers patients the best of both worlds – a cosmetic solution that is strong and durable. PFM crowns, specifically porcelain-fused-to-gold crowns, also allow for glass ionomer cements, which are less invasive and more stable than other cementing materials.

In addition, if the porcelain ever fractures, it will not damage your tooth structure because there is an underlying protective layer of metal alloy base that bonds directly with your tooth.

Zirconia and Porcelain-Fused-to-Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia is used for the production of all kinds of ceramics, including dental restorations. It is a white crystalline oxide made from the metal zirconium.

Zirconia's properties make it an excellent dental crown material because it balances hardness and elasticity. Zirconia crowns look great and are less likely to fracture than PFM crowns.

These crowns take less time to install and do not require multiple dental visits. Your dentist can cut, shape, and have the zirconia crown permanently cemented without sending it to a dental laboratory.

Zirconia crowns are also more affordable than metal crowns. Because dentists make them from digital scans, they come out extremely accurate.

Dental Composite Crowns

Dental composite is a resin material used to fill the gaps between teeth or cover them with a crown. Despite being synthetic, it still offers qualities similar to natural teeth thanks to its flexibility and resistance against decay.

Although this option is the most affordable, it may not perform well in terms of strength and durability. You may need to visit your dentist regularly to replace dental composite crowns. However, they are an excellent option for patients who need their front and back teeth restored but cannot tolerate metal and porcelain crowns.

Lithium Disilicate Crowns

The latest in dental crown technology is lithium disilicate, a type of all-ceramic crown. This type of crown makes for a light and thin denture that dentists can easily customize to fit each patient's natural tooth.

Lithium disilicate crowns look great and are incredibly durable. However, they are more expensive than other dental crowns. In addition, some dentists have reported significant failures when using disilicate crowns for multiple back teeth restorations.

Contact Smile Spa to Discuss the Right Solutions for You

You know you want to have that perfect smile, and a dental crown can help. It is an investment but worth every penny with its impressive results.

If you are looking for a dentist in your area who offers dental crowns, Dr. Silman and the team at Smile Spa can help. We offer free consultations on the best dental crown material for you to help you choose the right one. We also offer replacement services for a loose crown or chipped crown.



Get in touch with us today for general and cosmetic dentistry in Manalapan, Parlin, and West Long Branch, NJ. Call Dr. Silman and the dental professionals at Smile Spa at (732) 577-1515 to schedule your appointment or find out what your dental insurance covers. You can also reach out to us online to book an appointment at one of our offices nearest to you.