Breaking or losing a tooth, or several of them, is not an end to your looks and self-esteem. Crowns and bridges are common treatments offered by almost every dental clinic. If your dentist has mentioned this to you, it is time to start understanding and considering the best material for your crown or bridge,
First and foremost, what is the difference between a crown and a bridge? A bridge consists of several crowns, that’s all. A crown is used to cover a chipped or broken tooth. However, if the entire tooth is missing, a bridge consisting of at least 3 crowns has to be administered. The teeth neighbouring the gap will serve as abutment teeth to help support the crown for the missing tooth in the middle.
In recent times, the only sighting of a gold tooth was on a rapper because various materials have emerged to be as sturdy as gold but less prominent. Here’s a list of the most widely-used materials for crowns and bridges, and its advantages:
- Pure porcelain
With the exception of gold, porcelain is the material used to make crowns, either pure or in a combination with other materials. Porcelain is used due to its close colour resemblance to teeth, making the crowns look natural and unnoticeable. A pure porcelain crown is the best in terms of aesthetics and is also ideal for those with allergies to metal. However, pure porcelain crowns can fracture easily if you tend to grind your teeth in your sleep.
- Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
With the addition of metal, the porcelain crown becomes stronger and can be fitter to cover the tooth more accurately. PFM is the standard crown used today, as it gives the best of both materials – the natural looks of porcelain with the strength of metal. However, do take note that this crown type could look less good on those with gum recession; extra porcelain layers are required to hide the metal.
- Glass-free ceramic crowns
In comparison to PFM, glass-free ceramic crowns look better as there are no metals. Also known as zirconia crowns, glass-free ceramic crowns are very strong, and are friendlier to the tooth too because they don’t need to be as thick, resulting in less trauma for the tooth. What’s even better is that the crown can be bonded to the tooth to provide even greater strength. However, this bonding is rarely done as the higher cost is a deterrent to most patients.
Dental Above, located in Balwyn North, has all of the above options, and gold ones too if you prefer. Discuss these pros and cons in further detail with your dentist so that you can make a better decision for a crown or bridge that would best fit your needs.
