Dental Crowns 101

Everyone loves the occasional smile from strangers – unless that smile consists of cracked, discolored teeth. Because a smile can go a long way, dental crowns are one of the best ways to restore those pearly whites for a picture-perfect grin.

With situation and purpose in mind, a dental crown is placed overtop of a problematic tooth to become its new working surface; there are a few types of crowns that can work perfectly for each individual.

The most durable option is a metal crown. Silver or gold in color, these crowns are the strongest, but their obvious visibility can cause issues for some, thus they are more commonly found towards the back of one’s mouth.

Porcelain Fused to Metal crowns, or PFM crowns, sport a subtler look than that of the metal crowns. With durability still in mind, this type of crown has all the strength of metal, yet a porcelain upper surface acts to conceal most of the metal’s shiny finish.

For the most natural and realistic smile, all porcelain or all ceramic crowns are what you need. Though not as durable as a metal or PFM crown, these types of crowns give the appearance of a natural tooth. However, when using all porcelain or all ceramic material, one must consider its possible change of color when absorbing certain foods and drinks.

If price is an issue for you, then a resin crown is your best option. Though visually appealing, resin crowns are more likely to need a replacement sooner than most other crowns, as they are not as durable.

No matter what type your smile needs or desires, dental crowns can be just what you need to get your smile back into tip-top-toothy shape.