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For two reasons, you need to know the pros and cons of any dental crown material your dentist recommends to you. One, a dental crown is as good as the materials used to make it. Two, your choice of crown material will determine the total cost of the crown placement procedure. Well, don’t panic. This article will let you know the pros and cons of all dental crown materials; and, as a bonus, how you can easily pay for your dental care at Westerville Dental Associates without having dental insurance. 

Onward. 

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are placed over the teeth to protect and restore the teeth’s strength, appearance, or form (in terms of size and shape) when fillings are ineffective. 

Types of Dental Crown Materials

Dental crown materials can be:

• Stainless steel
• All-metal
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal
• All-ceramic
• All-porcelain
• All-resin
• Pressed ceramic

Pros and cons of Dental Crown Materials

Stainless steel

Stainless steel crowns are used as temporary dental crowns, prefabricated, not custom-made, to ensure quick and easy placement on the teeth. This way, there’s no need for multiple visits to the dentist’s office and are, therefore, more cost-effective than other dental crown materials and prophylactic dental care. They are strong, made of safe metal, hard to damage or remove, easy to clean, cover the entire tooth, and precisely fit into the tooth. Stainless steel crowns are especially good for protecting children’s primary teeth from further decay. With ease, such crowns will later come out with the primary teeth to pave the way for the permanent teeth. However, stainless steel crowns can oy be used as temporary measures on permanent teeth until a more permanent alternative is custom-made. They may last for four or more years. 

Metals

Metals used as dental crowns are alloys of gold, platinum, chromium, nickel, or palladium. Out of all dental crown materials, metal crowns are the strongest and the most resistant to chipping, breaking, and wear. They are easily removed and are the most tolerant of biting and chewing forces. However, the visible metallic color they impact on the teeth and the high-cost of quality alloys are the main drawbacks of metal crowns. They are best used for teeth that fall to the part of the mouth where they’re not visible. 

Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns

Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns are better than all-metal crowns in that the former can be made to have the same color as natural teeth. It is only All-ceramic dental crowns that are better than porcelain-fused-to-metal when it comes to this color advantage. However, they also have their drawbacks. Their inner metal layer might impact visible dark lines (especially along the gum) and the porcelain coat on the metal might also chip or break. Also, they cause the teeth opposite them to wear faster due to their strength during contact, unlike metal or resin crowns. Porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns are better for front teeth, back teeth, and long bridges (for their strength). 

All-ceramic dental crowns

All-ceramic and all-porcelain dental crowns give the best natural tooth color after all-porcelain dental crowns. They are stronger than all-porcelain crowns but not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. They can be used for front and back teeth and, like all-porcelain crowns, are suitable for people with metal allergies. Because of their strength, they may wear the teeth opposite them faster than usual, but more gently than all-resin and all-metal crowns. 

All-porcelain dental crowns

All-porcelain dental crowns offer the best natural tooth color among all dental crowns and have all the other characteristics of all-ceramic dental crowns. But all-ceramic dental crowns are stronger than all-porcelain dental crowns. 

Pressed ceramic dental crowns

Pressed ceramic dental crowns gives the best natural tooth color as the ceramic color is being complemented by the porcelain used to cap it. They last longer than all-porcelain crowns because of the hard-inner core made of ceramic. 

All-resin dental crowns

All-resin dental crowns are the cheapest of all crowns, but they are also the least resistant to wear, and they break easily than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. 

Temporary vs permanent dental crowns

A temporary dental crown is a prefabricated tooth-shaped and natural tooth-colored cap made from stainless steel or acrylic-based materials and are designed to last for a few weeks or months for a permanent crown to be made. However, stainless steel crowns can last for more than four years. Your dentist can recommend a temporary crown to you to temporarily reduce tooth decay, teeth gap, and gum sensitivity. It can be used to help you chew and eat until a permanent solution is designed. Since temporary crowns are delicate and easily removable, unlike permanent crowns, you will need to take extra care while brushing, flossing, or eating, and maintain proper oral hygiene at all times. 

One-day crowns vs multi-day crown procedure

This method lets you get a permanent crown at a single visit to your dentist’s office using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Tooth scanning, custom crown design, and crown construction all happen in that single visit to your dentist’s office. Unlike a multi-day procedure that will take you at least two visitations to the dentist, a one-day procedure only takes between 2-4 hours. However, not every dentist has the needed equipment to achieve this. 

In a multi-day procedure, the dentist scans and carries out tests on your tooth, and might recommend a temporary crown for the time being. The last visit is for the placement of the custom-made crown. 

Onlay or 3/4 dental crowns

Your dentist might recommend an onlay or 3/4 dental crown if your tooth doesn’t need a full crown. This happens if a substantial part of your tooth is still natural, healthy, and intact. This can reduce the total cost of the procedure. 

How Long Does a Dental Crown Last?

A permanent dental crown can last between 5 and 15 years on average. Nonetheless, a crown can last more or less than that range. This depends on the dental crown material, the extent of wear and tear it is subjected (through food chewing and grinding, clenching of teeth, and personal teeth usage practices like using the teeth to open packages), and your oral hygiene. 

How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?

An average dental crown costs between $500 and $1,500, but your gold crown can cost up to $2,500. As an information bonus, at Westerville Dental Associates, we offer Dental Savings Plan for those without dental insurance. Through this, you and your family can enjoy a lot of discounts and take up easy payment plans that suit your needs. You can schedule an appointment with us today to learn more about this. 

What Factors Determine Dental Crown Cost?

• The type of dental crown material you need to use
• The type of tooth preparation your dentist will need to do for you 
• The wage of your dentist and the number of hours your dentist will spend on the procedure

Factors to Consider While Choosing a Dental Crown

• Cost of the dental crown material
• Strength and durability of the dental crown material
• Tooth appearance after fixing and color of the adjacent teeth
• Tooth location in the mouth
• Tooth function
• The extent of tooth decay and the natural tooth that remains

Who Needs a Dental Crown?

Your dentist may recommend a dental crown to you if:

• You have a tooth cavity that is too large to fill.
• Your tooth has severely decayed, cracked, or weakened. 
• Your tooth has a root canal that needs protection
• You need a dental bridge or tooth implant due to teeth gap

While the points above can let you guess if you need a dental crown, the decision is best taken in cooperation with your dentist. At Westerville Dental Associates, our specialists are compassionate and professional.