Does your tooth have damage that's too large or widespread for a filling to fix? A dental crown could provide the solution. Instead of fitting inside the tooth like a filling, the crown fits over the exterior of the existing tooth like a protective cap. Different styles of crowns exist that vary in how much of the tooth the crown covers. And crowns also come made out of a few different materials.
Choosing the right crown material can depend on the crown's size or your budget. But the tooth needing the crown can also determine the best choice. Molar teeth take a lot of force when biting or chewing so you want to select one of the sturdiest crown types to avoid breakage.
Gold Crowns
Crowns made of a gold alloy are one of the strongest but also most expensive types available. Gold can withstand the regular force of chewing even if the crown is fairly thin.
The crown won't match your natural teeth, but positioned on a molar the gold will rarely be seen by others. There's a chance the crown can be damaged if its rubbing against a hard porcelain crown on a neighboring tooth. But that damage happens over a long period of time and is still fairly rare.
One potential downside of a gold crown is increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. This might prove especially problematic if your teeth are already temperature sensitive.
Porcelain and Gold Crowns
If you want a more natural looking crown but don't want to sacrifice on strength, a porcelain fused gold crown might be your best choice. The gold base still provides the durability while a porcelain overlay comes close to matching the natural color of your teeth.
Porcelain and gold crowns aren't as natural looking as full porcelain crowns. The porcelain overlay is a bit transparent and the gold edge can show at the bottom of the crown if the cap doesn't go all the way down to the gums. But those aesthetic issues shouldn't be a major issue with a molar, since few people are going to have the chance to see the side of those teeth.
Full Porcelain Crowns
Full porcelain crowns are less strong than porcelain and gold but a better choice than composite crowns. The main advantage of full porcelain is the fact that the crown will closely match the natural color of your teeth.
If you already have full porcelain crowns in the front of your mouth, you might opt for the same on your molar simply to have everything match. While porcelain crowns can withstand the normal wear and tear of chewing, this might not be the best option for those with a history of teeth grinding. For further assistance, contact dental crown specialists, such as those from Cary Dental Associates.
Share22 May 2015
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!