Types of Crowns

What is the crown?

There are several types of crowns avaible in this modern era that fulfil your needs. A crown is a cap represented in tooth shape that is placed over a tooth. Once it is cemented on the tooth only a dentist can remove it. Crowns are also used to fill the gap if you are missing one or more teeth. The purpose of the crown is to cover the damaged tooth, strengthen it, improve its appearance and alignment in the mouth.

Crowns are made by taking the impression of the tooth. Before the impression is created, your dentist must reduce the size of the tooth to fit the crown properly. In some cases, a temporary crown is also placed in case of emergency, while the permanent one is being made.

Need for the crown?

There are several types of crowns used to

• Protect a week tooth from breaking or to hold the cracked parts of the teeth together.
• To cover misshaped and discoloured tooth.
• Restore or Reattach the broken tooth.
• To cover the tooth and support it with a large filling.
• Used to cover a tooth that is treated with a root canal.
• Covers a dental implant.

What are the different types of crowns?

Full Metal crowns

Since ancient times, the crowns are used to made from yellow gold. Now, other modern bio-compatible alloys are used in its places like Nickel, palladium and Chromium. Metal crowns are of the most preferred types of crowns that rarely break and ling last for many years. It can withstand biting and chewing forces well for many years.

Compared with the other types of crowns, this only requires a small amount of tooth to be removed. Metal crowns are nowadays used for people having a little gap when biting together. Metal crowns are the best choice for out of sight molars.

Advantages of metal crowns

• Unlike other crowns, it has tremendous strength.
• It is completely made of very good quality.
• Metal crowns last for a very long period and resist breaking or chipping compared to other types of crowns.
• Durable and used for the restoration of hidden teeth.
• Metal crowns are suitable for those who have strong chewing habits.

Porcelain fused to metal

This type of crowns has a thin metal substructure that allows strength. These can be matched to the colour of the teeth beside them. Apart from all-ceramic crowns, porcelain crowns look most like normal teeth. The metal framework is strong and perfectly fits the prepared teeth.  Sometimes the metal under the porcelain crown cap shows through a dark line.

There are also drawbacks associated with the porcelain crown-like chipping and breaking off the crown. To fit this type of crown, it requires a large part of your tooth. Porcelain fused to metal crown increases the chance of gingivitis more than the other types of crowns. It may harm your opposite teeth while chewing. These crowns can restore your looks but can’t give you a perfect smile like other crowns. This type of crown is not suitable for those who have receding gums.

Advantages for Porcelain fused to metal crowns

• These are strong and durable. Also enhances the bonding to the teeth.
• You have a variety of shades in this type of crown to choose from to make it look like your other teeth.
• Its stability ad strength is unmatched to any other restoration available today.
• Porcelain fused metals are the preferred choice when bridges for the long run are required.

Zirconia crowns

Zirconia is a metal belongs to the titanium family. These are similar to porcelain bonded crowns. This is a biocompatible man-made material which allows light to pass through it and it is immensely strong. It is also available in many shades. Due to its durability, zirconium is becoming one of the most chosen types of crowns in dental crowns.

Advantages of Zirconia crowns

• It is well known for superior looks. As zirconia is naturally white, it allows the transformation to any shade which matches to the rest of your teeth.
• It has no metal lining at the gums. As a result, Zirconia crowns allow more confident smile. You can give a customized shape or size to zirconia to match the rest of your teeth.
• The zirconia material is biocompatible i.e., it allows no allergy and it can stay safe within your mouth for a long time.
• Zirconia crown bonds well with the tooth. These crowns require less amount of tooth removal compared to the other types of crowns.
• Metal-free crowns are more preferred due to their excellent physical properties. Thus it is a metal-free crown and people who want to look young and natural, zirconia is most suited for them.

All-ceramic or All-porcelain Crowns

These crowns provide the best natural colour match to your teeth than any other types of crowns. These are a good choice for people with metal allergies. All-ceramic crowns look more natural because they don’t contain any metal. These are made of pure ceramic which reflects light. People who want more high-tech and natural-looking can go with this type of crowns.

Advantages of All-ceramic or all-porcelain crowns

• This type of crowns allows them to avoid some problems that must be managed when other types of crowns are used.
• These are made translucent porcelain that reflects light and looks almost perfectly like your natural teeth.
• Built with an aluminium oxide ceramic core that is resistant to breakage.
• They are not temperature sensitive and can fit better than metal crowns.
• These crowns are biocompatible i.e., made with friendly material soft tissue which helps your gums grow back around the tooth unlike other types of crowns.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your Prosthodontist ( dentist specialised in replacement of lost teeth) with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.