Dentistry has come a long way from several decades ago. With today’s technology, we are able to transform someone’s smile in a matter of hours or even a couple visits. There are several services and treatments that are available to anyone, no matter what their situation may be.
One of the services that we offer is the placement of dental crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over the tooth to help restore its shape, size, strength and appearance. There are two types of dental crowns: porcelain and metal. Here at Dr. Lordo’s office, we feel that there are more advantages to placing porcelain crowns.
What are Metal Crowns?
A metal dental crown is made up of gold alloy, palladium (another alloy), or a base-metal alloy (nickel, or chromium). Believe it or not, metal dental crowns have been around for several centuries. Gold was always the metal of choice, but throughout the years, other metals began to be used in the crowns instead.
Metal Crowns vs Porcelain Crowns
As technology continues to advance within the dental industry, we are constantly finding new and better ways to deliver the best possible dental treatments available. One of those is by using porcelain dental crowns as opposed to the metal dental crowns. While there are some people who are a good fit for metal crowns, we prefer to use porcelain when it is an option. Here are some comparisons to the metal crowns vs porcelain.
Porcelain Crowns:
- They are great for front teeth or any other tooth that is more visible to the eye
- They look more life-like and are more aesthetically pleasing than the gold crowns
- They do not conduct heat and cold as much; therefore reducing temperature sensitivity
- They are low risk of chipping or cracking
Metal Crowns:
- They are not easily hidden, so they are only ideal for molars or teeth that are not visible
- They conduct hot and cold temperatures very easily, resulting in sensitivity, especially in the first few weeks after placement
- They may be reactive in patients with metal sensitivities
- Gold tends to wear away over the years, especially if the patient grinds his/her teeth
- Since gold is cast like jewelry from molten metal, it can sometimes leave micro-gaps at the sides that can cause decay
Which Dental Crown is Right for Me?
When you visit your dentist, you will most likely discuss which type of dental crown is best for your unique situation. While there are a few different types of dental crowns out there, here at Dr. Lordo’s, we prefer to use porcelain crowns for as many of our patients as possible. Usually we find that the patients love how discreet the crown is and how there is little to no temperature sensitivity.
If you currently have a metal dental crown and you are beginning to experience issues with your crown, we would be more than happy to take a look at it and see what options we can provide in replacing it with a porcelain crown. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact our office.