A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a tooth or dental implant to restore its appearance and strength.
Dental Crown is required:
- To strengthen a weak tooth.
- To protect and support a cracked tooth.
- To restore a severely broken/fractured tooth.
- After RCT.
- To cover a dental implant.
There are several types of dental crowns available in the market. There are many types of dental crowns. The patient chooses them according to their personal preferences; it also depends on visibility and location of the tooth in dental arch.
(A) METAL CROWNS
- Gold crowns
- Palladium crowns
- Ni-Cr crowns
- Co-Cr crowns
Adv: Durable, load-bearing
Disadv: Poor esthetic display
(B) PFM CROWNS
Core is built with metal, porcelain material is fused over it.
Adv: Durable, natural tooth-colored restoration.
Drawback: Porcelain material may chip off over time, exposing metal underneath. Opposite tooth abrasion (mild).
(C) PRESSED CERAMIC CROWNS
Esthetically acceptable, made of ceramic only.
Drawback: Chipping of ceramic over time.
(D) ALL-RESIN CROWNS
Made of resin material.
Adv: Less expensive, matches tooth color shade.
Drawback: Fragile, more prone to break.
(E) ALL-CERAMIC CROWNS
Adv: Matches tooth shade accurately, patients having metal allergy.
Disadv: Brittle.
(F) ZIRCONIA CROWNS
Made of zirconium dioxide.
Adv: Extremely durable.
- Can withstand heavy forces.
- Gentle on opposite tooth, resulting in less occlusal wear.
- Layering makes it to be used in anterior tooth segment also.
- Esthetically very good, matches tooth shade.
Disadv: A little bit expensive.