Differences in Dental Crowns

Dental crowns, which are tooth-shaped caps that permanently cover teeth, are used when teeth are broken, decayed or severely stained. Crowns come in a variety of materials--primarily metal, ceramic, porcelain and resin. The differences in these dental crowns are functional, financial and aesthetic. The type you choose may depend on where the tooth is located, the extent of damage and the amount you are able to pay.

Functional Differences

• Metal crowns are the strongest and most chip resistant. However, because they are a dark, metallic color, they are not a good choice for front teeth Ceramic or porcelain, which will closely resemble your normal color, are an alternative. The downside to ceramic and porcelain crowns is that they are more vulnerable to chipping. Some crowns are actually porcelain or ceramic fused to metal, which gives you the strength of the metal with the aesthetics of the porcelain or ceramic.

Financial Differences

• Resin crowns are the cheapest, according to WebMD. They are also prone to breakage, so in the long run they may not be the best financial choice. Other factors will come into play when figuring the cost of crowns, such as the location of the tooth, the materials used and the extent of your problem. Dental crowns range in cost from $500 to $3,000 as of 2010, according to CostHelper.com.

Asthetic Differences

• Crowns made of porcelain or ceramic are recommended for cosmetic dentistry or if you are concerned about an exact match to your tooth color. While the porcelain-fused to metal type of crown may initially look the same as all-porcelain or all-ceramic crown, WebMD says they are not always the best choice for front teeth because the metal sometimes becomes visible after normal wear and tear on the crown. The metal shows through especially at the gum line, so if you have receding gums, this type of crown is not the best choice for aesthetics.