Five Considerations When Choosing Dental Crown Material

In the course of life, a little bit of tooth wear is quite natural. Our teeth are also not exempt from permanent cracks – or even premature injury.

Unfortunately, unlike most other parts of our body, teeth are not regenerative – unless you are a child – and any dental trauma suffered is irreparable. Fortunately, there are dental solutions that come very close to your original pearly white.

Dental crowns are artificial teeth that are individually tailored to your smile. They are usually color-coordinated with your chomper set and are made of durable material – usually porcelain, as this material is both dirt-repellent and white.

Porcelain isn't the only material you can use, however, and there are a number of factors that you should consider before deciding on a material.

Here are five things to think about before you bite the bullet (or maybe not a bullet. That's why you probably need a dental crown in the first place, right?).

1. Porcelain or ceramics

As mentioned earlier, porcelain or ceramic crowns are the most common and popular choices. This material is dirt-repellent and, most conveniently, white, so it should blend in seamlessly with your smile.

The disadvantage of porcelain is that it is one of the more expensive dental crowns and also the material that is most prone to chipping.

For this reason, you should reserve these more cosmetic crowns for your front teeth rather than your back molars (where most of the rougher, more pristine chewing takes place).

Their fragility also means you want to avoid roughness so you don't need any further tooth adjustments.

In terms of aesthetics, dental crowns made of porcelain or ceramic come closest to reality.

2. Gold alloys

Gold alloy crowns, on the other hand, are the most durable of all. In contrast to porcelain, gold alloys do not break or splinter. They are also less likely to cause a reaction than other metals.

The biggest downside to gold crowns is … well, they're gold, so they'll stick out like a sore thumb from your otherwise perfect palette of pearly white. Gold alloy crowns can be great replacements for molars, which are less visible – and which also require extra durability.

It is possible to fuse a gold crown with porcelain, but the gold will still be visible. These crowns stand out for their functionality, but they are not to be chosen for cosmetic purposes.

3. Base metal alloys

Much like gold alloys, base metal alloys are known for their durability, but are not the best cosmetic option. They're good choices for molars, but they don't look like natural teeth.

Although these crowns can cause problems for people with metal sensitivity, they are the most affordable crowns. These highly corrosion-resistant crowns are gentle on the neighboring teeth despite their super-stable structure.

They are ideal for someone with severe tooth decay. As with the gold alloys, there is an option to fuse them with porcelain, but this will not completely solve the cosmetic problem.

Porcelain can also recede over time, which may gradually expose the metal crown.

4. Porcelain / metal melting

We have already touched on the porcelain / metal “fusions” in this discussion. To describe their exact composition: These are essentially crowns made of metal alloys with a layer of porcelain on top.

The metal is the stronger material, and this is the anchor that connects to the tooth below. The porcelain brightens the crown and makes it appear a little more natural. These crowns are usually custom made in a laboratory under high temperature conditions to fuse the materials together.

While not a perfect cosmetic solution, it is a way to ensure the solid grounding that is sometimes required – especially with molars – without looking completely unnatural. Of course, this option is likely to incur additional costs as there are two materials involved.

5. Some final considerations

Ultimately, your individual needs determine the choice of crown material. As mentioned earlier, cosmetic appearance and material strength are two of the most important determinants.

You also need to consider how much room there is for the crown (s) as well as lifestyle factors.

For example, if your dental trauma is due to a sports injury, consider the sustainability of a porcelain replacement, which is more prone to damage than a natural tooth.

Cost is also an important factor. For perhaps obvious reasons, gold crowns are the most expensive. Metal is one of the cheaper options, but it's not necessarily hypoallergenic.

Sometimes you may have to choose something a little more sturdy at the expense of cosmetic appearance – or you can compromise with a porcelain / metallic hybrid if you can save the cost.

Choose the dental crown that best suits your lifestyle, needs and budget. Talk to your dentist to find out more.

About the author:

Manvitha Tenneti is a viable writer always eager to make content more interactive and accessible to readers. She went through various fields such as information technology, digital marketing, business processes, inventive writing, video scripting.