Zirconia, Gold, or Porcelain? Choosing the Best Type of Dental Crown for Your Smile

Dental crowns can boost your smile when stained, cracked, or broken teeth affect your self-confidence. With so many crown options today, how do you know which material best suits your needs and budget? This blog explores the various dental crown types, including their pros and cons, to help you choose the best option for you.

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Why Your Dental Crown Type Matters

A dental crown covers a damaged tooth to restore its strength, structure, or appearance. Beyond boosting your smile, these devices improve your ability to eat, chew, and speak comfortably. Depending on the material used and your oral hygiene habits, a crown can last 15 years or longer. Since a crown is a long-term investment in your oral health and appearance, choosing the best crown for your needs is a critical decision that should be weighed carefully.

The Most Common Types of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are made from various materials today, and each offers a different look, durability, and cost. The most common materials used for dental crowns include:

Gold Crowns

Metal crowns are usually crafted from gold alloys. They are highly durable, rarely chip or break, and can last up to 20 years or longer. They promise an accurate fit and require less tooth reduction than other crown materials.

However, their appearance leaves much to be desired, and patients with metal allergies can suffer an adverse reaction to the alloy. At one time, they were a top choice for molars in the back of the mouth, since these teeth experience more wear and tear. Downsides like the metallic appearance, potential health risks, and high cost have made these crowns much less popular, given today’s alternatives.

Resin Crowns

Resin dental crowns are often the preferred choice for temporary crowns. They are the most affordable type of dental crown and require minimal tooth reduction to place. They are also a safer choice for people who can’t have metal crowns due to allergies or bioincompatibility.

The primary drawback of resin is that it wears down much faster than other crown materials. These devices often last just a few short years before they need to be replaced. They can mimic natural teeth, but are prone to staining, chips, and cracks that reduce their durability.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

On the surface, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) dental crowns seem to offer the best of both worlds. The metal base can handle more wear and tear, while the outer porcelain layer offers an optimal aesthetic. They are typically less expensive than their all-porcelain or zirconia counterparts.

PFM crowns also offer significant drawbacks. If the gum recedes around the crown, which is common over time, the metal will appear as a gray line along the gum line. The metal also blocks natural light, leaving these crowns looking less like your natural teeth. These crowns require more tooth reduction to place, and the porcelain shell can chip or crack with use.

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain dental crowns have become the leading choice today because of their durability, stain resistance, and superior appearance. These crowns can be shaped and color-matched to the natural teeth, making them almost impossible to spot. The porcelain used for these crowns is also biocompatible, so patients don’t have to worry about allergies or other adverse reactions to the material.

While porcelain crowns are highly durable, they don’t withstand heavy pressure as well. Because they can be prone to chipping and cracking, they aren’t usually recommended for molars. They also require more tooth reduction to accommodate the thicker porcelain, which can leave teeth more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia crowns are crafted from zirconium dioxide, which creates a tough ceramic exterior that withstands more extreme wear. These crowns are tooth-colored and reflect light well, making them difficult to distinguish from natural teeth. They require less reduction of the natural tooth, and the material is biocompatible. Zirconia dental crowns are an ideal option for molars, since they are tougher than porcelain and more aesthetically pleasing than metal.

While zirconia’s toughness is a plus, it can also be a disadvantage if the hard surface wears down the natural teeth that bite against it. The hard material can also be challenging for dentists to adjust in the office. While the crowns are tooth-colored, they tend to be more opaque than natural teeth. The lack of translucency makes them a less-than-ideal choice for front teeth.

Same-Day Dental Crowns

Same-day porcelain crowns offer the convenience of a permanent restoration in a single appointment. Using digital scanning and in-office milling, your custom crown is created while in your dentist’s office while you wait. This approach eliminates the need for a temporary crown, avoiding issues with cracked or loose crowns while you wait for a lab to complete your permanent crown. Because the metal-free ceramic mimics the natural color of your teeth, you’ll enjoy an aesthetically pleasing outcome.

Same-day crowns are limited to all-ceramic materials, so they aren’t ideal for teeth that get significant wear. They are also not used for patients looking for that Hollywood smile, since lab-processed crowns produce the best cosmetic result. The scanning equipment is not sensitive enough to detect deep injuries or fractures, so patients with these concerns are better off with a traditional porcelain crown.

Learn More About Your Dental Crown Options in Riverside, CA, and the Inland Area

Choosing the best type of dental crown can be overwhelming, which is why you need a dentist who will take the time to understand your concerns and goals. Dr. Chad Tomazin’s expertise in dental crowns, coupled with his commitment to holistic, biocompatible dental care, ensures you receive a safe dental crown that fits you best. To learn more about dental crown types in Riverside, call our office today at (951) 686-3666 or complete our online contact form.