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.<\/p>\r\n
Gold-based alloys are kind to the teeth meaning they don\u2019t wear them down as much. Other dental metals offer resistance to wear and tear. The downside is clear. You can see the crown.<\/p>\r\n
If you need a crown on a molar and appearance isn\u2019t a concern I would lean toward metal. It just works. You chew, brush and forget about it.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 under heavy chewing. That\u2019s exactly what a back tooth needs.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Usually requires tooth removal compared to some ceramic options though your dentist will decide based on the tooth.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 The colour is the giveaway. A metallic tooth won\u2019t win any beauty contests.<\/p>\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n
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\u2019t mean it\u2019s always better.<\/p>\r\n
Here\u2019s where the choice gets interesting. If you\u2019re replacing a tooth ceramic usually wins for looks. I\u2019d choose it without hesitation.<\/p>\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 tooth? Blends in better. That\u2019s hard to argue with.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Back molar taking a lot of wear? Metal deserves to be considered before you rule it out.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 If you grind your teeth at night mention it. Your bite can change which material makes sense.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022 Allergies matter too especially if a certain metal is being considered. Worth discussing before the crown is made.<\/p>\r\n
For a tooth I\u2019d choose ceramic. The natural look is important when the crown sits in your smile.<\/p>\r\n
For a tooth I\u2019d be more practical. Metal has a track record and doesn\u2019t need to look pretty because no one is really looking at it.<\/p>\r\n