Ceramic Crowns

Once  commonly referred to as, “porcelain jackets,” today’s all-ceramic  crowns are fabricated from advanced generations of aesthetically  appealing, lifelike materials affording strength and durability  approaching that of tradition metal and porcelain fused to metal crowns  (PFM).

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Do I need a crown?

When a tooth requires a full coverage restoration to rebuild its structural integrity and appearance, how good the crown  will look and how well it will withstand the forces of oral function are  major considerations in choosing the type of crown. In the past, only  metal crowns or ones fabricated out of porcelain fused to an underlying  substructure of metal offered the strength required to bite and chew  without breaking. While porcelain fused to metal crowns to this day  remain a popular choice for strong, attractive and long-lasting  restorations to rebuild teeth that are damaged, decayed, misshapen, worn  down, undersized, or have had a root canal procedure, there are some  drawbacks. For one thing, the thin metal margin at the collar of a PFM  crown may be visible at the gumline (especially in the presence of receding gums).  Also, due to the presence of an underlying metal shell, porcelain fused  to metal crowns do not come close to handling light in the same way as  natural tooth structure or dental ceramics.

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Advantages of Ceramic Crowns

While the  trade off between appearance and strength used to mean that porcelain or  all-ceramic crowns looked better but did not have the strength and  durability of porcelain fused to metal crowns that is no longer the  case. All-ceramic crowns are not only capable of producing incredibly  lifelike results, but thanks to the range of materials available today,  all-ceramic crowns are stronger and more reliable than ever before.

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Some of the advantages of all-ceramic crowns include:

• All-ceramic crowns interact with light in much the same way as natural teeth and can closely mimic their translucency and luster

• All-ceramic crowns can be made thinner and require less tooth reduction

• All-ceramic crowns are kinder to the surrounding tissues, for potentially healthier long-term results

• All-ceramic crowns are resistant to stain and discoloration

• All-ceramic crowns are metal-free and safer for individuals with allergies or sensitivities to metal

With the  range of engineered dental ceramics available today, which material is  selected for crown fabrication depends upon the location of the tooth,  the stresses on that tooth and the esthetic requirements of the case.  Certain all-ceramic crowns are more suited for back teeth, while others  are able to fulfill the aesthetic requirements presented by a front  tooth. Some of the all-ceramic crowns used today include Feldspathic  porcelain crowns, Empress crowns, Procera crowns, Lava crowns, Zirconia  crowns, and Emax crowns.