Metal vs Ceramic Dental Crowns: Which One Makes More Sense?

How Metal Crowns Compare

Metal crowns have been used for a time because they do a great job with chewing. They work well on back teeth, where the biting pressure is high and no one is really looking at the tooth when you smile.

Gold-based alloys are kind to the teeth meaning they don’t wear them down as much. Other dental metals offer resistance to wear and tear. The downside is clear. You can see the crown.

Where Metal Makes Sense

If you need a crown on a molar and appearance isn’t a concern I would lean toward metal. It just works. You chew, brush and forget about it.

• under heavy chewing. That’s exactly what a back tooth needs.

• Usually requires tooth removal compared to some ceramic options though your dentist will decide based on the tooth.

• The colour is the giveaway. A metallic tooth won’t win any beauty contests.

What Ceramic Crowns Bring Instead

Ceramic crowns are made to look like teeth. They reflect light in a way thats much like enamel so once they’re fitted well it can be hard to tell the crown is there.

Modern ceramics are much stronger than the porcelain you might have heard about. Zirconia for example is built to handle a lot of chewing pressure. Still just because ceramic looks better doesn’t mean it’s always better.

Appearance Versus Strength

Here’s where the choice gets interesting. If you’re replacing a tooth ceramic usually wins for looks. I’d choose it without hesitation.

For a heavily used molar the decision needs more thought. A strong ceramic crown can work fine but your bite matters. So does how much healthy tooth is left.

Metal vs Ceramic: What Should You Look At?

• tooth? Blends in better. That’s hard to argue with.

• Back molar taking a lot of wear? Metal deserves to be considered before you rule it out.

• If you grind your teeth at night mention it. Your bite can change which material makes sense.

• Allergies matter too especially if a certain metal is being considered. Worth discussing before the crown is made.

So Which Crown Would I Pick?

For a tooth I’d choose ceramic. The natural look is important when the crown sits in your smile.

For a tooth I’d be more practical. Metal has a track record and doesn’t need to look pretty because no one is really looking at it.

Dental Implant Services in Popular Locations

---