Types of Dental Crowns

          Dental crowns are made of metal, ceramic, or porcelain fused to metal. The type of crown utilized during your dental crown procedure will depend on your unique needs and goals, as well as the recommendation of your dentist.

• Metal Crowns made of metal are an option for repairing decayed or damaged back teeth. They are very durable and can be applied with less removal of the natural tooth than all porcelain or ceramic crowns. Metal crowns may consist of various materials, including gold alloy, palladium, nickel alloy, or chromium alloy.
• All Ceramic Crowns may be made of porcelain, resins, or dental ceramic materials. They create an extremely natural-looking appearance and are typically used on front teeth. The ceramic crown is translucent, like your natural teeth, and size and shade can be carefully matched to complement the rest of your smile. However, ceramic dental crowns are not as resilient as metal crowns and do not function as well on back teeth.
• Porcelain Crowns  made of porcelain fused to metal are stronger than other all-ceramic versions and more pleasing than those made of metal. However, their metal shell gives porcelain fused to metal crowns a transparent appearance. Because they lack the reflective quality of natural teeth, porcelain fused to metal crowns are not as pleasant as all ceramic crowns.

Crown Procedure:

          During your first visit, the dentist will numb the tooth to be crowned and remove the decay in or around it. Your teeth is then taken and sent to the dental lab where the permanent dental crowns are made. This usually takes one to two weeks. During this period, temporary dental crowns made of an acrylic resin are fitted onto the teeth. On your next visit, the dentist removes the temporary dental crown and fits the permanent dental crown onto the tooth. Then the dentist cements the crown into place.