Dental crowns cover damaged teeth and restore your confident smile. Some types of dental crowns, however, don’t look as natural as you want them. These noticeable crowns can make you feel self-conscious when talking or smiling, especially if they’re in obvious spots like your front teeth.
The good news is that you can easily avoid this problem by picking the right type of crown. If you need to get a dental crown but want it to blend in as much as possible, you can choose from these three natural-looking dental crown materials:
1. All-Ceramic Crowns
Porcelain is the best dental crown material for a natural-looking smile. It looks almost exactly like your natural teeth, both in color and texture, so it’s nearly impossible to tell that it’s there. This is why all-ceramic or all-porcelain dental crowns are the most popular option with patients.
Ceramic crowns are also biocompatible and contain zero traces of metal. They won’t trigger metal-related allergies or sensitivities, which is sometimes a problem with gold dental crowns.
The downside to porcelain crowns is that they’re not as durable as metal crowns. They can last a long time, but only if you’re careful with them. Because they’re relatively brittle, ceramic dental crowns aren’t suitable for people with bruxism or teeth-grinding conditions.
All-porcelain crowns range from $800 to $3,000.
2. PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns combine the aesthetics of all-porcelain crowns and the durability of metal ones. They’re mostly used for the molars since all-ceramic crowns would be too breakable for those spots.
Most PFM crowns use a thin gold alloy for the base, which is then enclosed in porcelain to make it look like natural teeth.
The best thing about PFM dental crowns is that they’re more affordable compared to all-porcelain ones. They cost around $500 to $1,500.
This dental crown material, however, isn’t suitable for patients with metal allergies. Additionally, PFM molar crowns tend to wear down the opposing teeth, so they may not be the best choice if you grind or clench your jaw habitually.
3. PFZ (Porcelain Fused to Zirconia) Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-zirconia crowns are a good alternative to PFM crowns. This type of dental crown is characterized by its durability and natural appearance. Just like PFM crowns, PFZ crowns have a thin metal alloy as the base and a porcelain coating.
The advantage of zirconia is that it bonds more strongly with porcelain compared to other metals used for dental crowns. This means that the porcelain is less likely to fracture from the base, which is a possibility with fused-to-gold crowns.
Additionally, zirconia is proven to be biocompatible. So, even if it’s a metal, the chances of triggering an allergic reaction are slim.
PFZ crowns are in the same price range as all-porcelain crowns.
Be sure to talk to your dentist when considering a dental crown. Tell them about your lifestyle and eating habits, budget, and aesthetic requirements, so they can recommend the best dental crown material. If you have allergies or a teeth-grinding problem, you should also communicate that to your dentist.
Dental Crowns Specialists in Scottsdale
Rod W. Gore DDS offers restorative dental care for patients of all ages. Our dental crowns cover broken, cracked, and stained teeth in the most natural-looking way possible, so you can feel confident in your smile again.
Call 480-585-6225 to schedule an appointment today. For inquiries about our dental services, fill out our online form.