A crown is a popular dental application that is used to correct the appearance and functionality of a damaged tooth. The device, which is a hollow cap that is tooth-shaped, surrounds the natural crown of the designated tooth, fortifying its structure.

Here is a bit of information about the types of dental crowns that are frequently used in dental restorations and the conditions that crowns often treat.

Crown Types

The type of crown material that is selected is often chosen based on the material's required durability and the aesthetic preferences of the patient. Here are a few options. 

All-porcelain

A dental crown may be made completely of porcelain. An all-porcelain crown, which is sometimes called a ceramic crown, offers the same translucency and sheen of natural tooth enamel. Additionally, the size and color of the crown can be matched to that of the patient's surrounding teeth.

Due to the similarities in the appearance of porcelain and tooth enamel, all-porcelain crowns are often used to restore the front teeth. Also, since the crowns are biocompatible, they do not elicit an allergic response.

Nevertheless, all-porcelain crowns tend to be more expensive than most other crown types, except gold.

Gold

Gold crowns are actually not made from pure gold. Instead, they are a mixture of metals. In addition to gold, the crowns may include a mixture of copper and additional metals.

Due to their coloration, gold crowns are often used for the restoration of back teeth. When placed on the molars, they are difficult to see in the mouth and still offer the strength and durability of metal. Nevertheless, some patients may be allergic to certain metals in the gold alloy, such as nickel.

Porcelain-over-metal

Porcelain can be fused to an underlying metal to form a dental crown. Crowns that are made of porcelain-over-metal are quite strong because of their metallic content and are also aesthetically pleasing because the porcelain can be matched to the color of the patient's tooth material.

Additionally, they are usually not as expensive as all-porcelain crowns.

Zirconia

Zirconia is a highly translucent material that may be applied in layers and can mimic natural tooth enamel almost precisely. The material, which is also biocompatible, is stronger and more durable than porcelain.

Conditions That May Require Treatment With a Dental Crown

Dental crowns may be applied due to the following conditions:

• Severely decayed teeth
• Implant-based restorations
• Cracked teeth
• Teeth that have been treated by a root canal procedure
• Misshapen teeth

To determine the type of dental crown that may be best for your restorative needs, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.