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A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is cemented onto your natural tooth, resulting in a long-lasting and fully functional tooth restoration! They are an excellent choice of restoration for many types of dental issues, such as:
To strengthen and protect a decayed tooth, e.g. one with decay too large to be repaired by a filling
To restore a badly worn down, chipped or cracked tooth
To change or restore the shape, size or color of a tooth
To complete a larger dental restoration, such as a dental implant or bridge
Crowns can be made of ceramic (porcelain-based), porcelain fused to metal, gold alloys, and base metal alloys. There are strengths and disadvantages to each type of material.
Base Metal Alloys are very strong and highly resistant to corrosion and wear, as well as gentle to opposing teeth. A base metal alloy crown typically requires the least amount of tooth structure to be removed.
Gold Alloys adhere strongly to the tooth structure and are highly biocompatible with gum tissue. It is resistant to wear and fracture and does not wear away opposing teeth.
Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) crowns provide a good strength and seal to the teeth, preventing leakage and decrease recurring tooth decay. A moderate amount of tooth structure must be removed, but PFM crowns offer a stronger restoration than porcelain alone and are quite durable and strong. However over time, dark grey or black lines can begin to appear at the gum line as the metal base begins to show through.
Ceramic is especially recommended for restoring front teeth due to its highly natural appearance. Porcelain crowns can be shade-matched exactly to the shade of your other teeth, and unless damaged are highly resistant to staining. More tooth structure often must be removed for porcelain crown restorations, and because the material is not as durable as the other options it is not recommended for teeth that sustain heavy biting and chewing.