Porcelain Crowns

While recent advances in veneer technology have been edging out crowns in terms of popularity, there are still many patients for whom crowns remain the best option. Unlike porcelain veneers, which cover only the front and sides of teeth, dental crowns are made to encase the entire tooth. For this reason, they are often used when the structure of the tooth is of special concern.

A variety of factors can cause structural damage to teeth. A history of abscesses, root canals, teeth grinding, or other trauma can significantly compromise a tooth's integrity. For such patients, crowns can offer cosmetic improvement while also providing vital support to weakened areas.

Aesthetically speaking, porcelain crowns are far superior to their predecessors, which were made entirely of gold. The new breed of porcelain crowns can be colored to precisely match the color of a patient's teeth. The one major disadvantage of crowns concerns tooth removal: while veneers only require a small portion of the tooth to be filed prior to placement, crowns typically require a large portion of the tooth to be cut down.

There are two types of porcelain crowns: those made entirely of porcelain, and those made of porcelain layered over gold. The former are preferable for aesthetic purposes, in that pure porcelain can better match the slight translucency of natural teeth. With a gold substrate, a metal rim is sometimes visible at the tip of the tooth and where the tooth meets the gum. However, as gold is a stronger substance than porcelain, it might be required in cases where the structural integrity of the tooth is at risk.