What Kind of Dental Crown Material is Best?

A dental crown can be a wonderful way to restore a damaged tooth. Teeth may be damaged by large fillings with recurrent decay or even fractures. By reshaping the tooth after appropriate anesthesia, a new "cap" or "hat" may be fitted to the tooth.

When the final crown is fabricated, it is customary to choose a material depending upon several factors including strength, esthetics, finances, and functionality. We will highlight differences in these crown materials below:

• Strength- Gold is very strong but not as esthetic so it should be used only in the posterior if the patient elects. Zirconia is wonderful in terms of strength and esthetics and may be a better option.
• Aesthetics- Porcelain fused to zirconia or E.max are wonderful materials for esthetic anterior crowns.
• Finances- Many insurance plans dictate coverage for a porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown but that crown type may not always be in the persons best interest. For example, porcelain is very brittle and prone to fracture. If the patient has a hard diet or history of clenching/grinding their teeth, PFM may not be the best option for them.
• Functionality- The marriage between aesthetics and strength may usually be found with zirconia, porcelain fused to zirconia or e.Max. All three materials are wonderful choices that help with the compromise between strength and esthetics.

As always if you have any questions about your treatment options or what dental crown is for you, feel free to give us a call! We enjoy providing outstanding dentistry in a comfortable environment for the fine folks of the bluegrass. We also offer free consultations about dental crowns if you have questions about if they are the right treatment choice for you or would just like a second opinion. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkHNyeOPlJE&t=2s[/embed]