Dental crowns are recommended for a variety of reasons, including discoloration. If your dentist has recommended crowns, he or she could opt for all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. To help you understand the difference between the two types of crowns, here are some of the pros and cons of each.
All-Porcelain Crowns
An all-porcelain crown is completely made of the ceramic and it is because of this, there is no dark line visible when it is installed. It is designed to resemble your natural teeth so that it is not detectable. If you suffer from metal allergies, an all-porcelain crown is best since it is non-allergic. It also less likely to irritate your gums.
All-porcelain crowns are usually installed in one visit to the dentist. Other methods of resolving cosmetic issues can require more than one visit to complete.
There are some drawbacks to an all-porcelain crown. It is not the most durable choice for aesthetic issues. Depending on how well it is installed, you could break the crown by biting into hard objects. To help shore up your crown, the dentist might remove more of your original tooth so that more cement can be applied to keep your tooth in place.
All-porcelain crowns also tend to be more expensive than other options. The starting cost for an all-porcelain crown can be $800 per tooth. Depending on the reasoning for the crown, your dental insurance provider might be willing to cover the cost of the procedure.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
A porcelain-fused-to-metal, or PFM, crown is a combination of metal and porcelain. The structural part of the tooth is made of metal and then covered with a porcelain surface. It is because of this, the crown is highly durable. A PFM crown also is more cost-effective than porcelain. The starting cost for a PFM crown is $500 per tooth.
PFM crowns also fit more precisely than the porcelain crown. The metal portion of the tooth is easier to meld to the surface than the porcelain material.
On the downside, PFM crowns can cause heavy wear on the teeth that are next to it. If you have dental work on your neighboring teeth, the work could be damaged by the teeth. Another possible disadvantage is that the metal structure of the crown can cause a dark line to appear along the gum line.
The best way to determine which crown is best for your teeth is to talk to a dentist (such as one from Four Corners Dental Group). He or she will assess your teeth and make a recommendation based on the results.
Share1 October 2015
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.