Information Library
Understanding Porcelain Crowns

It is important to understand the purpose and function for dental crowns before selecting the materials from which they will be made. Most dentists will make the appropriate recommendation to their patient based on their individual need, the kind of demands the crowns will have placed upon them, the amount of space available, and the amount of durability that is needed. While there are three common materials employed in the manufacture of crowns, or “caps” as they are frequently called, the most frequently seen are the porcelain material crowns. There are two standard varieties: the pure porcelain or ceramic crowns, and the porcelain fused to metal crowns. Of the two, the porcelain fused to metal are currently the most durable due to the strength of the inner metal core – which can be a precious metal such as gold or a dental safe amalgam metal . They are also a realistic and aesthetic choice as they are crafted from materials that will easily match the color of the natural teeth of the patient.

The key to successful application of any kind of crown is the preparation of the tooth to which the crown will be attached. This is where difficulty can arise with the porcelain on metal crowns as they require a significant amount of space around the tooth to apply them securely. Dentists tend to preserve as much of a natural tooth as possible, which presents a challenge to this type of application. A second concern where the porcelain to metal crowns are concerned is the gradual appearance of the underlying metal within the inner core of the crown as the gums of the patient recede with age. Most dentists have crowns crafted with all-porcelain “collars” which hide the metal during the recession of the gum. The all porcelain crowns are actually ceramic materials, most often zirconia and aluminous materials. While they are easier to fit, because they do no have the inner metallic core, they are not nearly as durable as the porcelain on metal crowns. Additionally, many patients want the ceramic crowns because of their more realistic in appearance, which is the result of light transferring naturally through the substance in the same way it does on natural teeth. Crowns that are applied for purely aesthetic purposes are usually the all porcelain variety, wherever such an application is possible.

In order to have crowns applied a patient must make two separate visits to their dentist. The first will be to prepare the teeth that will receive crowns and to apply a temporary crown on each tooth. The second visit is to have the permanent crowns applied with a dental cement or adhesive, and when the patient will test the new crowns for comfort and aesthetic appeal. People with partial dentures may also need crowns applied to the teeth that will be used to secure their partial dentures. Though many cosmetic dentists prefer their patients to investigate implants rather than dentures or “partials” because the implants deliver a strong and more natural bite and make crowns unnecessary elsewhere in the mouth.