Dental crowns are commonly used to cover and reinforce previously damaged teeth. This practice protects your natural teeth from further damage and provides a strong bite surface. What you may not know is that there are actually several types of crowns. Each has their own uses and strengths. Let’s look at the types of dental crowns.
Types of Dental Crowns
These are the most common categories of dental crowns.
Porcelain
Porcelain crowns are some of the most popular. They combine a natural appearance and long-term durability. These crowns are most often used on permanent adult teeth that are easily visible to other people.
The only downside of porcelain is that these crowns can stain. Traditional teeth whitening treatments will not work on these materials. You will have to be cautious when consuming staining foods or liquids, but a regular oral hygiene routine can drastically reduce the risk of staining.
You can generally expect a well-cared-for porcelain crown to last 15 years or more.
Metal
Metal crowns are less common today, but they are still widely used. Some metal options offer high durability at a much lower price point than a porcelain crown. However, the cost and exact properties of your metal crown will depend on the precise material used.
For more information on what metals are best fitted to your situation, talk to your dentist when you meet to discuss cosmetic dentistry in Burbank. Metal crowns are still considered safe, but emerging research suggests that some metals may leak low levels of mercury. This concern is something you should discuss with your dentist before agreeing to a specific crown type.
You can generally expect most well-cared-for metal crowns to last 10-15 years.
Resin
Resin dental crowns can look very natural. They also can prove far cheaper than porcelain. Unfortunately, they can typically only last around five to ten years. The average lifespace for other crown types remains closer to fifteen.
Resin dental crowns are also more susceptible to staining. Given their weaker construction, resin crowns typically do not find use in cases where the natural tooth requires significant support. If the tooth needs holding together by the crown, metal crowns often remain the best option.
Hybrid Options
Hybrid options are more common than you might think. The most popular hybrid crown is a metal interior casing that has been fused with an exterior porcelain crown. This particular hybrid offers the best of both worlds, offering the strength of metal, the outward appearance of a natural tooth, and a durable bite surface.
A porcelain crown fused to metal is particularly useful for severely damaged teeth that are highly visible. With that said, there are few situations where this hybrid crown type isn’t a good choice. If your particular case requires something different, your dentist will let you know long before you get your dental crowns in Burbank.
Considering Your Options
Within these large categories you will find several sub-categories that all have their own unique properties. Your dentist will help to guide you through the process of finding an option that works with your preferences while providing the protection that you need.
Your dentist’s recommendations will be based on several factors. These include the extent of the damage to your tooth, your general oral health, and the risk of future deterioration. Essentially, they have to determine how much support your crown needs to provide to prevent harm.
Once you have a few viable options, your dentist will go over the particulars of each. This is a great time to discuss specific preferences you have for cost, longevity, and aesthetic appearance. You will almost certainly find a solution that you can both agree on.