Metal crowns

Metal crowns are usually alloys, often mixed with soft metals such as gold or a base metal like nickel. Metal crowns require the removal of less existing tooth stricture than other types of crown and are perhaps the strongest. Metal crowns rarely chip or break and don’t wear down as much as other crowns. Furthermore, they can withstand more chewing and biting than other forms of crown. However, metal crowns are not naturally coloured, so are considered too unsightly for front teeth.

Porcelain crowns

Porcelain crowns are often fused with metal to add strength. They have the advantage of being able to be coloured to match the natural colour of the surrounding teeth. However, they can cause wearing of adjacent teeth, are not as strong as all-metal crowns and can chip or break. While they look natural, the metal in these porcelain crowns can sometimes show through and appear as a dark line on the tooth, especially if the gum line recedes. However, because they are fairly strong and naturally coloured, they are ideal for front teeth.

Ceramic crowns

The most naturally looking crowns are those made from ceramics. These can be matched to the surrounding teeth almost perfectly, although they are not as strong as other types of dental crown and are usually fitted in people who have metal allergies or who want natural-looking front teeth.

Resin crowns

Resin crowns can also be made to match the surrounding teeth colour and have the distinct advantage of being able to expand and contract just like a natural tooth structure. Resin crowns are also very gentle on opposing teeth compared to other types of crown and they are still fairly strong.

Installing a crown

The installation of a crown normally requires more than one visit to the dentist. During the first visit, a dentist will examine and prepare the tooth and also make impressions used for making the crown. The next visit will involve the actual fitting of the crown.

During the preparation stage, a dentist may want to x-ray the mouth to ensure the health of the tooth, its roots and the surrounding bone. If there is tooth decay present, the fitting of a crown could result in infection or damage to the tooth. Sometimes it may be necessary to perform some root canal treatment to ensure the tooth is capable of receiving the crown.

Once the dentist is satisfied that the condition of the tooth is good, he or she will then administer a local anaesthetic so that the tooth can be reshaped to make room for the crown. This is a painless procedure and the amount of reshaping required is normally dependent on the type of crown to be fitted and the state of the tooth, Sometimes, it may be necessary to fill a damaged tooth so that it can support the crown.