Dental crowns are made of metal, ceramic, or porcelain fused to metal. The type of crown utilized during your dental crown procedure will depend on your unique needs and goals, as well as the recommendation of your dentist.

Metal Crowns

Although their metallic color makes them a poor choice for highly visible teeth, dental crowns made of metal can be an ideal option for repairing decayed or damaged back teeth. They are extremely durable and can be applied with less removal of the natural tooth than all porcelain or ceramic crowns. Metal crowns may consist of various materials, including gold alloy, palladium, nickel alloy, or chromium alloy.

All Ceramic Crowns

All ceramic crowns may be made of porcelain, resins, or dental ceramic materials. They create an extremely natural-looking appearance and are typically used on front teeth. The tooth-colored ceramic material is translucent, like the enamel of your natural teeth, and size and shade can be carefully matched to complement the rest of your smile. However, ceramic dental crowns are not as resilient as metal crowns and do not function as well on back teeth, which sustain a lot of pressure from biting and chewing.

Porcelain Crowns

Dental crowns made of porcelain fused to metal are stronger than all-ceramic versions and more aesthetically pleasing than those made of metal. However, their metal shell gives porcelain fused to metal crowns an opaque appearance. Because they lack the reflective quality of natural teeth, porcelain fused to metal crowns are not as discreet as all ceramic crowns. Additionally, over time, a thin metal band may be visible along the gum line with this type of crown.

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns can look beautiful and very natural. Zirconia is an extra tough ceramic material, and it can be made extra thin. They have no metal in them, and can be made translucent or opaque, depending on the demands of the situation. If they are bonded onto the teeth, and not just cemented with conventional dental cement, they won't show a black line at the gumline years later, the way porcelain fused to metal crowns do.

The crown consists of two separate components, the core and the porcelain. The Zirconia Core is designed to be as resilient as any metal copings used for traditional PFM crowns. And over the years the Zirconia Crown has been proved as a superior replacement for crowns of similar composition, such as the Java and the Procera Crown. It is also a desirable replacement for PFM crowns, especially for patients with metal allergies.