The Pros And Cons Of Different Dental Crown Material

When it comes to getting dental crowns, you want what is best for your teeth. As you explain to your dentist what exactly it is you're looking for, you'll find a variety of options at your fingertips. Although many people assume there is only one type of dental crown that you can receive, porcelain crowns, there are actually a variety of materials dental crowns can be made out of.  Each different crown materials have both pros and cons. Before you get your new dental crowns put in, you should know the different types of materials available in order to make the best choice for your new dental crowns. 

All Porcelain or Ceramic

One of the biggest pros that people find in the all porcelain or ceramic dental crown material is that in many dental offices you can finish the process of receiving crowns in one visit. If your dental office allows it, after the tooth is prepared for the procedure, the crown is made in a small machine onsite while you wait. After the crown has completed, it can be immediately attached to your toot; consider that most other dental crown fixtures take, at minimum, two visits to finish. Unfortunately, there are problems with all porcelain or ceramic dental crowns, as well. For example, all porcelain or ceramic dental crowns are hypersensitive to temperatures. At extreme temperatures of hot or cold, all porcelain or ceramic dental crowns are even prone to cracking.

Metal

Metal crowns are a great form of dental crown to choose from. Unfortunately, they don't have much in the way of aesthetic or cosmetic value. Metal crowns will not ever truly match the aesthetics of your natural teeth, as they are usually silver or gold. They are quite easy to spot and don't blend in well with the rest of your mouth. Having said this, they have two incredible advantages: they are relatively cheap and, without a doubt, they are the most durable form of crown you will find. Your tooth or teeth will be protected from any extremities that you can possibly think of, save for some very serious trauma.

Porcelain Fused To Metal

Porcelain fused to metal crowns are unique in that the crown itself is metal with a porcelain facade or veneer placed over it to give it the illusion of a natural tooth. One of the appeals it has is that it has most of the aesthetic, natural looking value of an all porcelain or ceramic dental crown, but with the added durability and integral stability that it has due to it substantively being made of metal. However, this is not to say it has all of the aesthetic value of an all porcelain or ceramic dental crown. There is usually a dark line present at the top of the tooth where the porcelain veneer meets the substance of the metal crown.

Resin

Due to the fact that foreign objects are being integrated into your mouth, the possibility of your body potentially rejecting a metal dental crown exists, or you might even have an allergic reaction to the dental crown. However, this won't happen if you opt for a resin dental crown, which is biocompatible with your body. This is not to say that everything about a resin crown is all wine and roses. Resin crowns might, in fact, be too tough and negatively affect your tooth root and the surrounding roots as well.

There are pros and cons to every dental crown that you can imagine. Hopefully, this brief guide has shed some light on the situation and you've come to a realization of what crown would fit best for your mouth. Talk to your dentist about different crown materials for more information on your brand new crowns!