Types Of Dental Crowns
Crowns are dental installations that are designed to cover up decayed teeth and cavities. Though all types of crowns are designed to protect your teeth from further damage, there are several different types of crowns available, each of which has a different set of features and disadvantages. Understanding the differences between the available types of crowns can help you talk to your dentist about which variant is the best fit for your dental health needs.
Ceramic
Ceramic crowns are the most common type of dental crown that most people have installed, largely because the ceramic of the crown blends in well with the surrounding teeth. This can help maintain a natural aesthetic with your smile. It's also important to note that dental crowns come at a fairly affordable price point, which makes them ideal for those who have to maintain a tight budget.
However, ceramic crowns do suffer from a limited degree of durability when compared to other types of crowns. This means that you may have to have crowns repaired or replaced over time, especially if you suffer from jaw clenching or teeth grinding.
Porcelain and Metal
Porcelain and metal crowns have a metal base, providing more durability than plain ceramic crowns will, but are covered with porcelain. This maintains the appearance of your teeth, hiding the crowns from view, giving you the best of both worlds.
However, porcelain and metal crowns do cost quite a bit more than ceramic crowns. Further, the metal underneath the crowns can begin to show through the porcelain over time due to age and wear, ruining the aesthetic that the porcelain is intended to create. Finally, it is possible for the porcelain coating to chip or break away, exposing the metal underneath, which can require an entirely new crown to fix.
Metal
All metal crowns provide the highest amount of durability possible to your teeth, protecting against all future decay and damage. There are several different types of metal available, from an amalgamation of different alloys to gold fillings, all of which provide the highest degree of durability that a dental crown can offer.
However, metal crowns can require a large portion of your real teeth to be shaved off in order for the metal to be fit into your mouth. Further, it's important to note that no matter what type of metal that you choose, your crown will be highly visible when you open your mouth. For more information, visit http://www.SeattleRainbowSmiles.com.