Tooth decay and accidents cause damage to teeth that is unable to be repaired. If the damage is left alone, it can provide opportunities for bacteria to cause infections.
When this sort of damage occurs, but the core of the tooth is still in good condition, it can be saved through the use of dental crowns.
Dental crowns are one of Houston’s foremost restorative dental implants. They preserve and protect the original tooth while also restoring function to the tooth as well as its original appearance.
Dental crowns can be made from several different materials, each with their own pros and cons. So which type of crown is right for you?
Material Pros and Cons
There are five types of dental crowns.
- Temporary Crown
Prefabricated stainless steel crowns.
Pro: Stainless steel usually works well for patients, even with metal allergies.
Con: They are not permanent. They only serve as an interim protection until a permanent crown is fashioned and installed.
- All Metal Crowns
Primarily constructed from gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium.
Pro: Very durable. Able to withstand heavy bite forces without breaking.
Con: Unnatural appearance. Some metals cause allergic reactions in patients. High wear on adjacent teeth.
- Porcelain-Metal Crowns
Porcelain shell over a metal infrastructure.
Pro: Natural looking, decent strength.
Con: Causes extra wear on adjacent teeth.
- All Porcelain or Ceramic Crowns
Completely constructed from porcelain or ceramic materials.
Pro: Very natural looking can be color matched to existing teeth. Best used for front teeth.
Con: Expensive, noticeably less durable than metal or porcelain-metal crowns.
- All Resin Crowns
Resin polymer compound that can restore function at a cost.
Pro: Cheapest form of dental crowns. Very little wear on adjacent teeth.
Con: Very low durability, prone to fractures.
Choosing the Best Dental Crowns in Houston
The material you decide to go with can depend on several factors. Of course, a main concern of many patients is the cost of the crown and its material.
This is an understandable concern, but it should also be met with notion that a slightly more expensive crown could last significantly longer.
Repair tooth damage, conceal stains, and permanently restore your smile with same day porcelain dental crowns by Houston dentist.
For example, a resin crown is the cheapest option, while all porcelain crowns may be the most expensive. In the middle are metal crowns.
The resin crowns will wear out very quickly and need replacing more often. The porcelain ones look the most natural, but also aren’t highly durable. The metal ones look the least natural, but are the most durable.
One way to choose the best dental crowns is to determine where they are going.
Crowns for teeth in the front will benefit more from porcelain crowns. They look more natural and the bite forces are generally lower.
In the back at the molars, metal crowns reign supreme. They can withstand the heavy bite forces of chewing and aren’t very noticeable in the back.
Both porcelain and metal crowns will last longer than resin crowns, sometimes lasting 15 to 20 years or more with proper care.
Talk with your Memorial Galleria area Houston dentist and discuss what options are available for you and which ones may be the best for your situation. There is no one size fits all solution. Every crown is custom made just for the patient, and so too is the care custom tailored to each situation.
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