Tips on choosing the right dental crown

When a tooth is damaged and has lost a little bit of its material, for instance, when you have a cavity, a root canal, or a chipped tooth, bonding is a quick and easy fix to restore the tooth’s pristine look and function.

When a tooth is damaged too much for bonding to fix, however, the solution is a dental crown (aka cap).

A dental crown covers part (a partial crown), or all, of a tooth. So, the type of crown you get will depend on the amount of tooth needing restoration and strengthening, with the goal being to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible.

But crowns can be made of different materials, and you get to choose what type yours is made from.

Now there are some careful considerations to be made because the different types of material have different properties. For example, gold is really strong! But not many people want one of their front teeth made of gold (it’s absolutely perfect for back teeth though). 

Here are the material options, and tips to help you choose, from a dental crown dentist in Surrey.

Dental crown material choices

• Metal - Gold, strong, durable, not as wearing on opposing teeth. Expensive.
• Porcelain - Looks natural and non-allergenic. #1 choice for front teeth.
• Porcelain/metal - Combination of aesthetics and strength

Gold dental crowns

Gold dental crowns are the most durable and long-lasting, potentially lasting a lifetime. They can take a lot of pressure, making them perfect for the back molars. They are more expensive than the other options, and they may not be suitable for those with a metal sensitivity/allergy.

Porcelain

Porcelain crowns are the aesthetic choice for the front teeth. They can be ‘stain-matched’ to blend right in with your other teeth. They’re strong and durable, lasting 5-10 years with good care. When presented with the choice by their dentist, Surrey patients overwhelmingly choose porcelain crowns for the beautiful natural look and all-around strength. They are less suitable for the back teeth because they may chip under the pressure exerted there.

Porcelain/metal

This type of crown uses a metal base with porcelain cap to blend aesthetics with the superior strength of metal. Consequently, it tends to be more durable than all-porcelain. However, one potential downside is the chance the metal will show if there is any future gum recession.

We hope this information helps. If you’re interested in reading about the steps for dental crown placement, read more here. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!  604-584-2535

Riverside Heights is your North Surrey dentist office near the Guildford Mall & Fraser Heights. We’ve been giving beautiful smiles to Surrey residents for over 20 years! Book an appointment today!