Bravery for Your Root Canal

Are you in need of a dental crown for one of your teeth, but you are undecided about what kind of crown you want to get? Here is what you need to know about several of your crown options.

Metal

Many patients like metal crowns because they require a minimal amount of tooth preparation, and the material is still very durable and strong. This results in less of your natural tooth needing to be removed to fit the crown on top of it, which can result in fewer complications during the procedure. 

However, the disadvantage of metal is that it is not very aesthetically pleasing. It is best used for rear molars that you can't see since it will look really bad to use a metal crown on a front tooth. 

Porcelain Fused To Metal 

As the name implies, a porcelain fused to metal crown is made out of two types of materials. However, having two layers means that more of the natural tooth needs to be removed in order to fit them on the tooth. Many people pick this type of crown because it is a cost-effective solution that is both strong and looks good. You'll have that strong metal base forming the crown around the tooth, but a natural-looking layer of porcelain on top of it. 

One thing to know about any crown that uses porcelain material is that the porcelain can crack over time. The material looks natural, but it requires more care to avoid damaging the crown due to the material simply being less durable than metal. 

Porcelain Fused To Zirconia

A porcelain fused to Zirconia crown is less invasive when it comes to having it placed on the tooth since it is a middle ground between the previous two materials when it comes to how much of the natural tooth needs to be removed. Removing less of the tooth will reduce your chance of a complication during the procedure. This crown also shares the same disadvantages of a porcelain fused to metal crown, since the porcelain can crack.

Monolithic Zirconia

When you hear the name monolithic crown, this means that the crown is only made out of one material. In this instance, the crown is made completely out of Zirconia material. While not as good as metal in terms of minimal reduction of the tooth being necessary, it is still better than the other options. What makes a Zirconia crown unique is that the material is opaque, so it will look less natural than other crowns. 

Talk to your dentist if you need a dental crown.