Best Dental Crowns for Front and Back Teeth
When you need a dental crown to restore a damaged or decayed tooth, you have more options than you might realize. Dental crowns are available in a variety of materials that offer different aesthetic appearances and functionalities, and certain types of crown materials are better suited for specific areas of the mouth. If you think you may need a dental crown, read on for more information about which are best for front or back teeth.
Dental crown materials
Dentists most commonly use five types of materials for dental crowns:
- Ceramic: Made of a porcelain-based material that can be customized to blend in with your natural tooth color
- Porcelain fused to metal: Offers the natural look of porcelain with the durability and strength of a metal structure
- Resin: A cost-effective option that is susceptible to wear and tear
- Gold alloys: A blend of gold, copper, and other metals that provides strength and low risk of fracture and wear
- Base metal alloys: A blend of metals that are strong and highly resistant to corrosion
Best dental crowns for front teeth
Your front teeth are the centerpiece of your smile, which is why it’s best to choose a natural-looking dental crown for front teeth that will blend in with the surrounding teeth. Ceramic and porcelain-based dental crowns offer the most pleasing aesthetic appearance of all crown types, and porcelain fused to metal crowns offer enhanced durability for daily use.
However, porcelain and ceramic crowns can sometimes aggravate opposing teeth if the surface becomes rough. And if the tooth’s gum line recedes, the underlying metal edge of a porcelain fused to metal crown might show. Resin crowns, meanwhile, come close to mimicking the natural look of teeth. Although the material is less-durable than the others, the front teeth are less susceptible to wear-and-tear than the back teeth, making resin a good option for front tooth crowns.
Best dental crowns for back teeth
While ceramic and porcelain dental crowns look the most natural, they might not be the best choice for back teeth, which are subjected to more pressure and biting forces than front teeth. Daily eating and chewing activities can take a toll on molars and other back teeth. Gold and metal alloys are highly resistant to wear, breakage, and chipping while also remaining gentle on opposing teeth. Additionally, if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), dental crowns made of metal alloys will be able to withstand the pressure.
Dental crowns on the back teeth are not usually visible while smiling, but they can be visible while talking so if a natural-looking appearance is your top priority for dental crowns, choose the next best thing to metal alloys—porcelain fused to metal.
Which dental crown is right for you?
Aside from appearance and strength, there are other factors to take into consideration when selecting a dental crown. People with metal allergies should avoid alloy-based and porcelain fused to metal crowns. For those with no metal allergies, it’s worth nothing that metal alloy crowns require the least amount of preparation on the existing tooth, which can lower the costs of the overall procedure.
Not sure which dental crown to choose?
At Sedation and Implant Dentistry Of Tehachapi, we understand how important it is to have a mouth full of functional, beautiful teeth. If you need a dental crown on one or more teeth but you’re not sure which type of crown to choose, our staff of professional dental specialists can help. Give us a call today at (619) 263-6683 to set up an appointment.