Dental crowns are commonly used today. They are designed to help protect any damaged or fractured teeth requiring a large filling. Even though you might think all crowns are the same, that isn't the case. The materials used to make these crowns can vary widely. With various options available, you can choose your new crown based on price, appearance and even durability. Just check out a couple of the different crown options below.
Metal Crowns
Metal crowns can cover teeth needing protection. Metal is extremely durable, malleable and easy to maintain. One of the biggest downsides to these crowns is the way they look. These don't bode well for those who want a pristine smile and need a crown on one of their front teeth. For those who need a crown on a back tooth, these tend to work the best. They aren't as expensive as their porcelain counterparts, which makes them a popular option. Some of the metals used to craft these crowns include gold alloy, nickel alloy, palladium and silver. Regardless of what metal is used, it needs to be rust-resistant and malleable.
Ceramic Crowns
Ceramic crowns are the next cheapest option. Their properties resemble that of porcelain crowns, but there is the possibility that these crowns could end up stained. Ceramic is a lot more porous than that of porcelain and it can stain due to black tea, coffee, pop and other foods. You cannot bleach the crowns, so you would have to go in and have them replaced if they end up stained.
Porcelain Crowns
These crowns are quite popular due to their natural-looking appearance. There are a number of different shades available and can be customized according to the color of your teeth. This material isn't as resistant as metal, so you could end up with cracking and chipping. Porcelain crowns often don't last as long as that of a metal crown. However, they look more aesthetically appealing when needing to cover your front teeth. These crowns are easy to maintain and aren't going to end up changing color with the foods you eat. If you are planning on bleaching your teeth, do so before getting your crowns installed. This way everything looks natural.
Make sure to discuss the various options available to you with your dental provider. They can evaluate the situation and help point you in the right direction of which crown to choose. To learn more, check it out here.
Share20 January 2016
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.