Should I Get Porcelain Crowns?

Many people who are due to get some sort of crown often wonder if it is worth the extra cost to get porcelain crowns instead. If you didn’t already know, porcelain is a much sought after material for use in dental practices since it very closely mimics the natural appearance of teeth. These types of crowns fall under the category of ceramic crowns, with modern advances in technology making these types of crowns far stronger than they used to be.

Can you afford it?

The cost of porcelain crowns can range from $700 (for porcelain bonded to metal types) all the way to over $1000 for an all ceramic tooth. If you have a lot of teeth that are going to need capped, you can quickly see how the costs add up. In is not unheard of for people with teeth in really bad condition have to pay over $20,000 to fix their teeth and smile through the use of porcelain crowns.

Do you need the crown to look nice; is it in a high visibility area?

All ceramic porcelain crowns are well suited to the front teeth that are easily seen. However, for the back teeth you will be able to save some money by getting gold crowns. These rear teeth are not easily seen, so some dentists advise that the added fit and strength of gold makes for a much better match for patients.

The only real disadvantages to metal crowns are their looks. Very occasionally, some patients exhibit an allergy to metal crowns which makes them unsuitable. This can be a problem with older crowns that are based on an alloy that contains nickel. Nickel can cause allergic reactions, which is why these days it is very rare for dentists or even their suppliers to have or use nickel based metals in crowns. Gold is very unlikely to cause any allergic reactions, since the probability of the body “taking offence” is literally a one in a million chance.
Are all-porcelain crowns durable?

The honest truth is that porcelain crowns are not as robust as their metal cousins. All-porcelain crowns can be known to chip or crack when subjected to some of the high pressures in the mouth, for instance when chewing. Metal crowns by comparison are virtually indestructible – the patient has no need to worry with these in place. Another important point to note is that porcelain crowns require a lot more of the tooth shaved away before the cap is placed on the tooth. This is because the porcelain component has to be thicker than a similarly sized metal crown to be strong enough to withstand chewing.

All-porcelain crowns have their advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion the aesthetic benefits outweigh any strength issues that patients may have on their minds. If you can comfortably afford the treatment, you will be a lot happier with a porcelain crown.