Dental crowns are one of the most common types of dental work that people have in their mouth if any. If you do not have one or more teeth with dental crowns, San Antonio residents probably know someone who has dental crowns in their mouth.
Dental crowns are designed to help protect a tooth that has been damaged in some capacity, usually because it has been cracked or worn down by tooth decay. Because of their functionality, they need to be made out of strong materials in order to protect a tooth but continue to be able to chew food.
There is not just one type of material that is used when making new dental crowns. In fact, there are many different types of materials that can be used, some of which are no longer popular but can still be seen on older patients.
Metal Alloy Dental Crowns
If you have ever seen someone with a dental crown on a television show or a movie, chances are they will have some sort of metal alloy dental crown. San Antonio residents should know there are different types of metals that can be used, all of which are good options to the point where they are sometimes used today.
The two most common types of metal alloy dental crowns are going to be gold or nickel, and they are not typically used on the front teeth in a person’s mouth.
Metal alloy dental crowns are often used on the molars or back teeth of a person’s mouth. This is because these teeth are functionally used from crushing and grinding up different types of food, so the material is going to need to be stronger than some of the material that may be on the teeth in the front of someone’s mouth.
Porcelain and Ceramic Crowns
While metal alloy dental crowns used to be much more common or standard many years ago, today they are being phased out for porcelain or ceramic dental crowns. San Antonio residents might be under the impression that these materials are not as strong as metal alloys, but you would be presently surprised.
They are a very durable material once they have hardened, and they can last just as long as dental crowns made from metal alloys.
One benefit that porcelain and ceramic dental crowns have over traditional metal crowns is the fact that they look more like real teeth. In some instances, it can be nearly impossible for someone to tell the difference between a porcelain or ceramic crown and a real tooth.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Anchor Dental Care*