Porcelain Crowns vs. Gold Crowns

In case you are unfamiliar with dental crowns, a crown is a cap placed over a natural tooth, usually to strengthen and protect it if it has been severely damaged or has undergone a root canal. Additionally, a cosmetic dentist located in Peoria may use a dental crown to cover a discolored or misshapen tooth or to cover a dental implant.

As your teeth age there are numerous issues that may require the placement of a dental crown. Teeth may become worn down, chipped away, or fractured. Teeth with extremely large fillings also may become weakened and require a dental crown to prevent chipping and fracturing.

Children can also require the use of dental crowns, even on primary teeth. This generally happens when a tooth has been so severely damaged by decay that there isn’t enough tooth left to support a filling.

Dental crowns are usually made from gold, porcelain, or a combination of the two. Each material has its own advantages and limitations.

Gold dental crowns tend to be the strongest and most long wearing, possibly lasting 50 years or more. They stand up well under the forces of chewing and biting while causing minimal wear to the opposing teeth. Additionally, less of the original tooth needs to be removed when preparing it for a gold dental crown in comparison with other types of crowns and they are less costly. The main disadvantage to gold dental crowns is the color, although that matters less when used on back molars.

Porcelain dental crowns have gained in popularity due to their ability to mimic the natural appearance and color of teeth. They are indisputably the most cosmetically pleasing and definitely the best choice for front teeth. They have been used by cosmetic dentists for over 40 years. On the downside, they are not as strong as gold dental crowns and they tend to wear down the opposing teeth more quickly than gold crowns do. Porcelain dental crowns also have a shorter life span, but new developments such as empress 2 and Emax are continually improving porcelain crowns.

You can expect two visits with your Peoria Arizona dentist to receive a dental crown. At the first visit your Peoria dentist will prepare your tooth for the crown. He will take an impression of the tooth to be sent to a dental laboratory where a permanent dental crown is made to custom fit over your tooth. Before you leave, a temporary crown will be placed over the prepared tooth to protect it until your next appointment.

At the next visit, if the shape, color and fit of the permanent crown are acceptable, your dentist will permanently cement it over your tooth.
At Aesthetic Dentistry of Arrowhead you will find the latest materials and techniques in dental crowns. Dr. Ceyhan continues to attend clinics, seminars and other continuing education to stay current with the most state of the art procedures available.

If you are in need of a dental crown, why not contact our friendly staff to set up an appointment and get started?