Are you confused about which type of dental crown is actually best for your tooth?
The ideal dental crown will be determined by the location of the tooth, the usage of that tooth, and its required strength. This is the reason why patients will always listen to various suggestions, and have the problem of not knowing which one to take.
The most frequently asked question that we get is, Which tooth crowns are the best and why are there so many different ones? The thing is, there is no crowns exchange. All the materials perform differently in the mouth and using the wrong material can result in wearing, pain or premature replacement.
There is no universal answer to which tooth crowns are best because different teeth have different jobs. Front teeth are more concerned with looks and the back teeth deal with heavy chewing.
Dentists select the material of crowns according to:
This knowledge can be used to understand why a patient can receive a porcelain crown and another patient is recommended to have a zirconia or metal crown.
The front teeth commonly using porcelain crowns are selected due to the fact that they closely resemble the appearance of enamel in terms of color and translucency. Whenever they are inquired about the best tooth crowns to use in the appearances, people tend to say porcelain.
Such crowns are well fitted among other teeth, and they are the best to be used where the aesthetics are the biggest concern. Nevertheless, porcelain is not so robust as other materials, and it can chip when there is considerable biting on it. Owing to this reason, dentists are wary of applying porcelain on the back molars.
Porcelain crowns are effective in cases where the most critical factor is the appearance and moderately strong bite forces.
Zirconia crowns have become very popular because they offer both strength and a more natural look. When patients ask which tooth crowns are best for both durability and appearance, zirconia is often recommended.
Zirconia is extremely strong and resistant to cracking, making it suitable for back teeth. At the same time, newer zirconia materials are more tooth-colored and less opaque than older versions.
This makes zirconia a common choice for patients who want long-lasting crowns without the metallic look.
The most durable ones are the metal crowns which are usually of gold or metal alloys. They are very resistant to the chewing forces and have a low tendency to fracture.
In debating the most longevity crowns of teeth, the metal crowns tend to come first. Nevertheless, they are not as attractive as visible due to their metallic hue. This is the reason why they are normally applied on the molars which do not appear when you are smiling.
Although they are not very popular in the cosmetic perspective, metal crowns remain an excellent functional option.
Dentists don’t choose crown materials randomly. They evaluate how the tooth functions in your mouth every day.
Factors dentists consider include:
It is based on this assessment that two patients with comparable damage can do so as to be given different recommendations on the type of crown they should have.
Not necessarily. Cost often reflects material and lab work, but higher cost doesn’t always mean better for your specific tooth.
For example, a porcelain crown may cost more than metal but may not last as long on a heavily used molar. The “best” crown is the one that performs well in its location over time.
So when asking which tooth crowns are best, value should be measured in durability and function, not just price.
Yes. A crown that’s too weak for the tooth’s location may chip or crack. A crown that’s too hard may cause wear on opposing teeth if not designed properly.
This is the reason why guidance by professionals is important. At Clove Dental Sherman Oaks we will emphasize on the ability to match the crown material with the position of the tooth, rather than patient preference in isolation.
So, which tooth crowns are best?
The crown that will suit your job of the tooth, your bite, and your long-term requirements is the best one.
Porcelain is superior in appearance, zirconia balanced both strength and beauty and metal is simply unmatched in durability. Selecting the appropriate one would give less troubles, and a long-term outcome.