A dental crown is an excellent way to protect and restore shredded or rotten teeth. They are the caps cemented onto the tooth, covering its whole visible length from that part of the structure and restoring the shape, size, and strength of the structure.

The material choice of the dental crown would arguably be a crucial decision that a patient makes, which impacts the life of the crown, durability, and aesthetic value, as well as comfort and cost. Poor material selection may lead to discomfort, potential extra costs, and premature crown replacement.

Selecting the appropriate material for a dental crown may be somewhat confusing. After all, it is not simply a cosmetic decision but also involves aspects relating to the duration, strength, and comfort of the dental work.

This blog will help you know the pluses and minuses of the various materials available so that you can make an informed decision.

Materials Used for Dental Crowns

Let us look in detail at the different materials and their features in detail:

1. Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) crowns are one of the most popular materials in restorative dentistry because of their strength and ability to look totally natural. They are used to strengthen weakened teeth or teeth that have undergone root canal treatment. The porcelain used on the coating gives it the appearance of a natural tooth.

Pros:

1. Strength and Durability: The metal core inside the porcelain provides the strength that allows PFM crowns to be used both in front and back teeth.
2. Aesthetic Values: It has a close resemblance with the natural enamel of the tooth. Therefore, it blends with other surrounding teeth.
3. Versatility: PFM crowns can also be used as abutments for restorations like dental implants due to their strength and aesthetics.

Cons:

1. Metal exposure: The metal foundation starts becoming somewhat visible, especially when the gum starts receding over the passage of time. This does not look aesthetically pleasing.
2. Chipping of porcelain: The porcelain added to make it look good can chip off easily or wear off with time, more so when under heavy biting or grinding.
3. Allergic reactions: Some patients may experience allergic reactions to the metal alloy used to make the base of the crown.

2. All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain Crowns

These crowns consist of only porcelain or ceramic materials. They are valued mainly for their likeness to natural teeth and are applied in restorations related to front teeth.

Pros:

1. Aesthetically pleasing: They match the color of existing teeth along with translucency and texture.
2. Biocompatibility: As they don’t contain metals, they are less likely to cause allergic responses.
3. No visible Metal: Elimination of a metal underlay eliminates/reduces the reflective effect of the metal line at the margin next to the gum line, typical of PFM crowns.

Cons:

1. Compromised strength: All-ceramic crowns, despite being the most aesthetic, generally are weaker compared to metal or PFM crowns and thus are more likely to fracture, chip, or de-bond.
2. More Expensive: The materials and the manufacturing of all ceramic crowns, frankly, are more expensive. It, therefore, comes less within reach of the common man.
3. Indicated for certain teeth only: These are most suitable for the teeth that are not subject to too much force while biting or chewing.

3. Metal Crowns

Single crowns can be manufactured from various metal alloys, such as gold, platinum, or base metals, and may have nickel or chromium added to enhance strength. Metal crowns adequately tolerate the compression and tension force of biting and chewing. Crowns fabricated with these alloys are the strongest, mainly in terms of wear and tear.

Pros:

1. Strength: Compared to any other kind of crown, metal crowns are pretty much the strongest and can actually serve for several decades if given good care.
2. Minimal tooth reduction: Metal crowns only use a small proportion of the tooth as a base. Therefore, a large part of the original tooth is preserved.
3. Cost: It is lower to intermediate in comparison to zirconia and all ceramic crowns; gold crowns. They may be a good choice for individuals who tend to grind or clench their teeth, as they provide increased support.

Cons:

1. Aesthetic Concerns: The shine on metal crowns prevents them from giving a natural appearance, especially when worn on the front teeth.
2. Allergic Reactions: Certain people tend to develop a sensitivity to certain metals, particularly those who are very sensitive to nickel.

4. Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns are made from zirconium dioxide that have gained popularity because of their high strength and aesthetically pleasing qualities.

Pros:

1. Very High Strength: The unique tetragonal crystalline structure and the addition of stabilizing oxides give zirconia crowns greater strength. As a result, they display great resistance to fracture and wear or tear and are the strongest members of the ceramic group.

1. Aesthetic: Since zirconia is white like teeth, it can also be colored to suit the surrounding teeth and blend easily with your smile.
2. All-Ceramic Properties: Zirconia crowns are all-ceramic-based crowns, meaning they literally contain no metal. This makes them biocompatible, and hence, they do not generally cause allergic reactions.

Cons:

1. High Cost: Zirconia crowns are very expensive, compared to other materials, due to the quality of the material and their superior durability.
2. Potential wear of the opposing tooth: As this ceramic is very strong, it may wear down the nearby natural teeth, especially in patients who grind their teeth.
3. Limitation in aesthetics: While being aesthetic compared with metal, it is further seen that the zirconia crown also might not reproduce the same quality of translucency compared with that of an all-ceramic crown.

5. Resin Crowns

These are crowns made out of a compound resin, which is basically filling material inside our teeth. They are usually developed for temporary uses or in case one wants to economize.

Pros:

1. Affordable: It is a cost-effective crown made from economical materials.
2. Aesthetics: They are color-matched to your teeth, delivering maximum aesthetics at an affordable price.
3. Easy to Prepare: Resin crowns are relatively easy to prepare and can be placed at the site more quickly compared to any other type of crown.

Cons:

1. Short life span: They have a relatively shorter life span in comparison to other materials as they are weaker and may need to be replaced sooner.
2. Discoloration: After some time, this same resin matrix material stains the dental crowns, ruining the aesthetics.

Factors to consider while choosing the best crown material

The material selected for the dental crown is governed by considerations such as:

1. Aesthetic Preferences: The crown’s overall look and colour play a crucial role during selection, especially when looking for crowns for your front teeth.

1. Durability: If you have nocturnal habits like bruxism, select a material that can withstand these forces, such as zirconia.
2. Cost Constraints: The expenses will be different for each material. So, choose a material that strikes a balance between the pros and your budget constraints.
3. Allergic Reactions: If you are allergic to metal, you should choose biocompatible materials like ceramic or zirconia.

Conclusion

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the various crown materials and make an informed choice after consulting your dentist.

At Gnathos Dental, we recommend the dental crown type that would be best for you, depending on the condition of your tooth, your oral health, and your preferences. We are ever ready to support you through the decision-making process towards that beautiful, everlasting smile. Call today to discuss with us.