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Dental crowns are dental installations that covers an entire tooth. They are usually made of ceramic or porcelain and can be used to improve a variety dental issues. Common uses for crowns are to restore decayed teeth and to cover metal amalgam fillings with natural looking materials, matching the surrounding teeth. Crowns can also be used to protect teeth weakened by root canal therapy or act as anchors for dental bridges.
Crowns are artificial teeth that attach to dental implants (metal tooth roots) or tooth-colored caps that fit over the top of a natural tooth. They can repair or replace teeth.
When would you need a dental crown?
A crown fits over your entire tooth, like a snug hat. To ensure a proper fit, a dentist will need to remove a small amount of enamel before bonding your new crown in place.
Crowns serve several purposes. You may need a dental crown to:
- Strengthen a weak tooth.
- Protect and support a cracked tooth.
- Restore a worn-down or broken tooth.
- Hold a dental bridge in place.
- Cover a severely stained or discolored tooth.
- Cover a root canal-treated tooth.
- Cover a dental implant.
Types of dental crowns
There are many types of dental crowns. The kind that’s right for you depends on your personal preferences and unique oral health needs.
Metal crowns
Dental technicians use several metals to make dental crowns, including gold, palladium, nickel and chromium. Metal crowns rarely chip or break, last the longest in terms of wear and only require a small amount of enamel removal. They can also withstand biting and chewing forces.
The metallic color is the main drawback of this type of crown. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of-sight molars.
Pressed ceramic crowns
A pressed ceramic crown has a hard inner core. It’s similar to a PFM, but the core is ceramic instead of metal. To make this inner core, a technician melts and presses ceramic in an oven at a very high temperature. Next, they add multiple layers of porcelain. Like all-porcelain crowns, pressed ceramic crowns mimic the translucency of natural tooth enamel.
Pressed ceramic crowns have the same drawbacks as PFM crowns. The layers of ceramic can chip away over time. Dentists use pressed ceramic crowns on front and back teeth.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns combine the durability of metal and the natural look of porcelain. Dentists can match these crowns to the shade of your own teeth.
Despite their strength, PFM crowns have some drawbacks. For example, the porcelain coating may chip off over time, exposing the metal underneath. In addition, PFM crowns may gradually wear down the enamel on your opposing teeth (the teeth that touch your crown when you close your mouth).
All-resin crowns
Dental crowns made out of resin are generally less expensive than other types of crowns. But they’re fragile and more likely to break compared to porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns.
Dentists often use resin to make temporary crowns. They last three to five years on average.
Our Insurance Partners
Our office accepts most major dental insurance providers. For additional questions regarding insurance, please contact our office.
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