Dental Crown Options

Dental crowns are imitation teeth that are used for a variety of reasons. Crowns can be used to fix tooth problems like narrowing gaps between teeth or lightening the color of an individual tooth. They are also used to replace lost teeth or teeth that have been chipped and damaged. Different types of dental crowns are available including metal, resin, porcelain and ceramic crowns.

Metal Crowns

• Metal crowns are often made of gold and other metals. A solid metal crown is the most long lasting crown currently available. It is strong and durable but the disadvantage is that it is not tooth colored so it is unsuitable for a front tooth. Metal crowns are a good choice for molar teeth because it takes a long time to wear them down.

Porcelain Crowns

• Porcelain crowns are constructed entirely of porcelain and they come in a range of different shades so that the correct match can be found for your teeth. Porcelain crowns are best suited for front teeth because they are tooth colored and blend in with the rest of your teeth. The disadvantages of all porcelain crowns are that they are prone to chipping and will not last as long as metal crowns.

Porcelain and Metal Combination Crowns

• Porcelain and metal combination crowns are a compromise between the two. Porcelain is fused to a metal crown so that the outward appearance of the tooth shows a tooth color, but on the inside of the mouth the metal in visible. These types of crowns last longer than all porcelain crowns but not as long as all metal crowns. A disadvantage to a porcelain and metal combination crown is that sometimes a small amount of metal can show through between the gum line and the tooth which impairs its appearance.

Implant Retained Crowns

• An "Implant Retained" crown is a good option when a tooth has been removed. An implant is screwed into the void left by the root of your previous tooth. A small amount of metal is left exposed above the gum line and this is what the crown will be attached to. Metal, porcelain or the combination crown can then be attached to the implant, which keeps the crown locked firmly in place. Replacing the crown also becomes an easier procedure with an implant. A disadvantage to this type of crown is that, unless you have already lost all of you tooth, it requires the removal of a tooth from your jaw.