There are so many factors to consider when it comes to choosing dental crown materials that it’s understandable if you feel a bit overwhelmed. Your Burlington dentist can help you evaluate whether gold or porcelain is the right choice for you.
Why Might You Need a Crown?
Crowns repair and cover up damage that might be affecting all or part of your tooth. Teeth can suffer cosmetic or structural damage for a number of reasons, ranging from injury, severe discolouration but most common fracture of large fillings. In other cases, dentists recommend crowns in order to anchor dentures or as part of dental bridges.
Depending on the reason you need them, some crown materials may be more effective than others. The two main types are porcelain and gold.
Porcelain Crowns
The advantage of porcelain for crowns is obvious — the material closely matches the look of real teeth. And they’re even available in several shades so that the color tone you were born with will be most closely matched.
Ceramic crowns (which are a porcelain-based material) are an excellent option for the front teeth as they are incredibly esthetic and long-lasting.
Yet porcelain isn’t suitable for every situation. Because porcelain is a very hard material it might cause damage to the teeth opposite to it if they are not strong enough to withstand the new porcelain crown. Although with advances in technology there are several types of porcelain-based materials we can now choose to address every situation.
Gold Crowns
Gold and gold alloys have the same hardness as natural teeth, making them inherently less likely to cause wear on the opposing teeth.
Gold alloy crowns are made by combining gold with less-expensive (yet stronger) metals, including nickel and chromium. The advantage of these metallic crowns over porcelain is that they are far less likely to wear down, break or chip. Yet whether this type of crown is made from solid gold or in combination with other metals, few people want a metallic-looking smile. Most dentists will recommend gold crowns for molars, where their strength is most needed — but where they won’t be as visible.
Your Burlington Dentist Can Help!
If your options seem confusing, take heart. At Dentistry at the Grove, we’ll help you understand the pros and cons of all options for crowns, and which one is right for your situation. And, of course, we’re here to help with any other dental needs you and your family have, from Invisalign to implants and bridges. Contact us with your questions today!
