What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?

Whether they are worn, damaged, or oddly shaped due to decay or injury, there are multiple options for restoring both the look and function of your teeth. One option our Greenville, N.C., dentists regularly suggest is a dental crown.

Dental crowns, also known as caps, are fitted over the portion of a tooth that lies above the gum line, enhancing appearance and restoring the structure. These restorations can be made from a variety of materials, including:

• Porcelain
• Gold
• Zirconium (very hard ceramic)

Which material is best will depend on where the cap will be positioned, as well as your oral health and aesthetic goals. Because it closely matches the natural color of teeth, porcelain is the preferred choice of patients who don’t want people to notice their dental crown.

Though porcelain is very durable, it’s often more effective at treating front teeth than back teeth. The pressure created by everyday activities like chewing, not to mention patients who habitually grind their teeth, can cause porcelain crowns to weaken over time.

If you require crowns for teeth in the back of your mouth, our dentists might instead recommend caps made of gold or zirconium. These materials tend to be more resistant to pressure, and using them on molars and other less visible teeth will help conceal any difference in color between the crown and nearby natural teeth.

During your consultation, our dentists will evaluate your teeth to determine the dental crown that will work best for you. Please contact Boles, Ham, Dixon & Boles or call252-291-2892 today to set up an appointment at our office near Greenville, North Carolina.