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You may know a crown is used to cover a damaged or chipped tooth, but were you aware that there are different types of dental crowns? Our Edmonton dentists explain.
What is a dental crown?
Your dentist may recommend a dental crown for a chipped, cracked, damaged, discoloured or decayed tooth, if a filling is not sufficient to repair the defect.
Sometimes referred to as tooth caps, dental crowns cover and protect existing teeth, keeping a natural tooth’s root and other supporting structures in place. This also preserves the jaw bone.
Crowns are often used in dental procedures to cover a tooth after a root canal or dental implant. Dental bridges can also be attached to them.
Types of Dental Crowns
Did you know dental crowns can be made from many different materials? There are a few different types of tooth crowns your dentist may recommend based on your needs. Some of the most common include:
Porcelain or Ceramic Crown
Porcelain is a specific type of ceramic that’s used to make the ceramic crown - one of the most common types of dental crowns. Porcelain is durable, appears and functions similar to natural tooth enamel, and is stain-resistant.
Porcelain crowns should generally last 10 years or more if they are taken care of properly. If you have a highly visible front tooth that needs a crown, a porcelain crown may be your best bet.
Gold Crown
One of the more durable types of dental crowns for teeth, gold crowns are sometimes recommended for those who grind their teeth. Depending on your preferences when it comes to appearance and your dentist’s recommendations, a gold crown may be placed atop a back tooth or molar, where this type of bite strength may be most useful since molars tend to be used to chew harder foods.
Porcelain & Metal Crown
Crowns are sometimes made from metal with a porcelain cover, which is securely fused to the metal. This type of crown may be more affordable than an all-porcelain crown. It would likely be better used on a back tooth so the strip of metal is not as visible.
Your dentist may recommend this crown depending on your needs. Keep in mind it may need repair or replacement if the metal begins to separate from the porcelain.
Base Metal Alloy Crown
Base metal alloy crowns are comprised mostly of nickel and chromium - and less than 25% of noble metals such as silver, gold, platinum and palladium. More affordable than gold crowns, base metal alloy crowns also have a strong bite strength.
However, if you have an allergy to certain types of metal your dentist may recommend an alternative type of crown. This type of crown may also be reserved for a back molar due to aesthetic reasons.
Do you need a dental crown?
There are many different types of crowns for teeth available today. If you have a chipped or damaged tooth, our dentists at Azarko Dental Group may be able to repair it with a dental crown. We can assess your tooth and determine which type of dental crown material would be ideal based on the tooth’s location and your lifestyle, habits and needs.