What Materials are Used to Make Crowns?

Dental crowns are one of the many dental procedures used to restore your teeth to their natural state.  A dental crown is a cap that is fitted on top of a problematic tooth to restore its shape and size, enhance its strength, and to improve its appearance and functionality. 

Dental crowns are made from a range of materials, including ceramic, gold, and metal alloys. This article explores the different materials used to make crowns so that you can make an informed choice for your desired smile. 

Porcelain

Also known as all-ceramic crowns, porcelain crowns are the most natural-looking and aesthetically appealing. They are ideal for restoring the front teeth as their color blends perfectly with that of natural teeth. 

These dental crowns are good at minimizing temperature sensitivity and are non-reactive for patients with metal sensitivity problems. They are also highly resistant to wear. The major downside of porcelain crowns is that more tooth structure has to be removed for them to fit perfectly.

Metal

Various metals can be used to make crowns. These metals include gold alloy and other alloys such as palladium. Metal crowns are preferred because less of the natural tooth structure has to be removed to set the crown in place.

These crowns also can withstand heavy chewing and biting forces. Additionally, they last longer than other types of crowns. Their only downside is their metallic color.

Porcelain Fused to Metal

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are a great alternative to metal crowns. They solve the color issue of the metal. The best thing about these types of crowns is that they can be made to match the color of the adjacent natural teeth. That makes them ideal for restoring the front teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns look completely like natural teeth.

Their major disadvantage is that the metal below the porcelain portion may pop out as a dark line, especially at the gum line.

Gold

Gold dental crowns are preferred mainly because of their impressive durability and the fact that they have less sensitivity compared to metal materials. By producing fewer reactions, you’ll experience more comfort during their application.

The major downside of gold crowns is that they aren’t cosmetically pleasing. In fact, they are mostly preferred for back teeth, particularly because they can be applied as a thin layer without compromising their strength.

It’s worth noting that there is porcelain fused to gold crowns for enhanced durability and cosmetic appeal. With these types of crowns, however, much like other metal crowns, the gold can sometimes pop up at the gum line, ruining the natural look of the porcelain.

Stainless steel

You probably have heard about silver teeth. However, that doesn’t mean that stainless steel crowns are actually silver. They only have silver-gray color. Stainless steel crowns are typically made for use on the natural teeth as a temporary measure. They help to protect the natural tooth as the permanent crown is being created from another material.

Stainless steel crowns are designed to cover the whole tooth, ensuring the tooth is free from further damage or decay. These types of crowns are mostly used on kid’s teeth as they don’t need several dental appointments to install.

In Conclusion

Dental crowns are used to repair damaged or decayed teeth. They are made of a wide selection of materials, including ceramic, metal, gold, and porcelain-fused-to-metal. These three are the most popular dental crown options.

However, there are other options such as resin dental crowns, which are significantly cheaper. All the dental crowns have their own pros and cons. Your dentist can help you choose the material that will work perfectly for you.