What Types of Dental Crown Materials Are There?

A dental crown is a type of dental restoration that is used to avoid additional damage to a tooth’s surface after it breaks, chips, or fractures. Dental crowns are caps that are cemented over broken teeth to preserve their function, form, and appearance. The materials for the dental crown can be metals, ceramics, porcelain, or composite resin.

Dental crown materials

The following are some of the available crown materials:

Ceramic

Front teeth are typically restored with ceramic dental crowns because they are customizable to match their natural color. They are made from a block of a porcelain-based material. Ceramic might not be the right choice for patients who tend to grind their teeth at night because it is prone to cracking when subjected to intense pressure. Although resistant to wear, a ceramic crown may irritate adjacent teeth in case the surfaces get rough.

Porcelain fused to metal

These dental crowns have better protection than all-porcelain crowns since they are fixed to a metal base. This further strengthens the crown’s attachment to the tooth, making it more resilient. The porcelain covering makes the crown natural-looking. This dental crown has a tight seal to avoid leakage, regardless of the condition of the underlying tooth or the filling materials used. Like full ceramic crowns, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns do not wear down quickly.

Base metal crowns

Every crown placement process requires that the dentist reduce the size of the tooth for a good fit. With a crown made of base metal alloys, only a minimal amount of tooth structure needs to be removed. The crown’s non-noble metals are highly corrosion-resistant, resulting in a solid crown. This alternative also offers a strong leak-proof seal. It is different from both porcelain options in that it is more wear-resistant and does not abrade the teeth on the opposite side.

Making a choice

Patients will still need to talk with the dentist who will be handling the procedure to know the best crown material for them. This guide is only meant to highlight the simple benefits and drawbacks of the most widely used and recognized crown materials. Relevant clinical issues or anatomical requirements for each patient can have a larger impact on material choices than all of the details discussed here.

When aesthetics or the front teeth are the primary consideration, the dentist will usually recommend a ceramic or porcelain-based crown material. A metal crown offers more strength and is usually used for the molars that handle most of the chewing in the mouth. The dentist will examine the teeth and recommend the best option for each patient.