Friday, November 1, 2013

What You Probably Don’t Know About Dental Crowns

Most folks presume that Dental Crowns are a fairly new procedure, but it might surprise you to learn that Dental Crowns have been around since the Etruscan period well over nineteen hundred years ago. According to your Glendale Dentist, Dr. Kevin Bogdon, gold was the most popular material used at that time with other materials quickly following suit. A few hundred years ago, lead was the metal of choice until it was discovered that it contained extremely high levels of toxic materials. Tungsten, iron, and tin became popular over the years, as did precious metals such as silver and platinum.

These days, crowns are no longer made out of toxic materials. Dentists in Glendale make permanent crowns out of stainless steel, gold, all ceramic, all resin, or porcelain fused to metal.

According to your Dentist in Glendale, crowns made from stainless steel are prefabricated and are normally used as a temporary fix on permanent teeth. While the stainless crown is protecting your tooth, the permanent crown is being made at a dental lab manufactured out of another material.

When gold or other alloys such as palladium, or base metal alloys like chromium or nickel are used for crowns, your Dentistin Glendale does not need to remove as much of the tooth structure. Metal crowns can withstand tremendous force and will last longer than other types of crowns. Metal crowns will rarely break or chip, unlike resin, ceramic or porcelain crowns.

According to your Glendale Dentist porcelain fused to metal dental crowns can be matched to your teeth unlike all metal crowns. With that being said, these types of crowns will wear down more quickly by your opposing teeth. The porcelain part of the crown can also break or chip. Another drawback to this type of crown is that the underlying metal can occasionally show through just under the gum line.
All resin crowns are less expensive, but will wear over time being more prone to cracks and breakages than porcelain fused to metal crowns.

All porcelain or all ceramic crowns offer Glendale Dentist patients the best color match and are much better for patients who suffer from metal allergies. However, your Dentist in Glendale will tell you that these types of crowns are not as strong as metal or porcelain fused to metal crowns. All ceramic crowns work well for front teeth.

When it comes to dental crowns, only your Dentist in Glendale can provide you with the best advice concerning dental crown materials. Schedule an appointment today with Bogdon Dental for a check-up and dental crown assessment.