When it comes to taking care of your smile, you deserve the best. But dental restorations are only as good as the materials they’re made of!
Maybe you’re considering cosmetic dentistry in Winter Park, FL. Or maybe you need crowns or bridges to repair damaged or missing teeth. Either way, we want you to enjoy lasting health and a gorgeous smile with the best materials dentistry has to offer!
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons for three of the most common types of dental crowns.
FULL CERAMIC DENTAL CROWN - ZIRCONIA & E-MAX
Even though it’s a relative newcomer to the world of dental restorations, full ceramic zirconia and E-max crowns have become the ideal option for most restorations.
In the past, dental materials could either restore beautiful, natural-looking esthetics or durability. But no material was great at both.
Full ceramics are a game changer because they give us the most natural-looking esthetics and lasting durability, too. In many cases it’s more durable than traditional porcelain.
Both zirconia and E-max can mimic the translucency, shine, and shade of natural enamel much more closely than other materials. With ceramic, we can seamlessly blend your restorations into your smile without sacrificing the long-term success of your treatment.
Because we don’t need high-temp furnaces to fabricate zirconia and E-max restorations, we can make them right here on premises with CEREC technology. That means you get beautiful, durable restorations without the wait!
PORCELAIN DENTAL CROWN
For many years, porcelain was the go-to for crowns and bridges. In most cases, that meant porcelain fused over a metal base. (If you’ve ever seen a crown with a dark line near the gumline, it’s probably the metal base peeking through.)
Although porcelain is still a great option in many cases, it’s quickly taking second place to zirconia.
Porcelain fused to metal is often a more cost-effective option, but often has a shorter lifespan, so over time the cost of replacing your restoration can add up. Porcelain also needs to be fused in specialized furnaces, so needs to be made in an off-premises lab, which adds wait time to your treatments.
Because it’s made from two separate materials, the porcelain can chip away from the metal base, which is a problem zirconia doesn’t have. It is possible to make a full porcelain crown, but they tend to be fragile, so zirconia or E-max are the better options at that point.
METAL DENTAL CROWN
Even before porcelain, noble metals like gold were the tried-and-true dental material for everything from fillings to crowns. These days, most people prefer an option that looks as natural as possible. So tooth-colored fillings and esthetic crowns are now the standard.
However, there are still some cases when full metal crowns may be best.
Stainless steel crowns are a common treatment for children’s teeth that need more support than a filling. While baby teeth can be taken out, it’s best to save damaged baby teeth whenever possible to prevent other teeth from shifting.
Stainless is an inexpensive but durable material. Stainless steel crowns have a high success rate and help prevent repeated dental work.
Gold is another great metal that can still be the best choice in some cases. Although it won’t look natural, gold is one of the most biocompatible dental materials, meaning it won’t irritate the tissues in your mouth. It’s strong but not brittle, so it can last almost indefinitely as long as the tooth underneath stays strong and healthy.
WE WANT YOU TO GET THE BEST!
Every time you visit us, our team will take whatever time you need to make sure you fully understand all your treatment options so you can choose the option that works best for your lifestyle and your budget.
We understand that dental treatments can sometimes be unexpected, and it can be hard to fit them into your budget. We can help make sure you get the most out of your dental benefits and connect you with third-party dental financing with CareCredit.
You deserve lasting dental health and a smile you love. Talk to us about how today’s dental materials can do both!