Crowns – metal versus porcelain? Which should I choose?

choosing dental crownsCrowns are used in cosmetic dentistry to fix the appearance of a broken, unattractive or discoloured tooth. They are typically made of a base component, metal or porcelain and some people will then choose to have an outer layer of a different material on top of the base. This layer is often porcelain, but can be other materials such as glass or gold.

Opting for a metal base/porcelain cover

Many crowns are made from a metal base which has a layer of porcelain bonded to it. These are very popular as the metal makes it strong and durable, while the outer layer of porcelain makes for an aesthetically pleasing solution to the broken or unsightly tooth.

The challenge with having a metal base is that you will be able to see a small amount of the metal around the edge where it is bonded to the porcelain. This will be darker than the porcelain colour (which will match the ivory colour of your natural teeth). For some people, this isn’t ideal and they wish to look at alternatives.

Opting for purely porcelain

Some people will opt for a fully porcelain crown. This gets around the issue of the darker edge that a metal/bonded porcelain crown will give, and the wholly porcelain crown will match your other teeth perfectly. It looks very natural. The problem with a 100% porcelain crown is that it is a weaker material and therefore more likely to break and require replacing.

Fully porcelain crowns are not the only alternative to using a metal base; some people will choose a ceramic crown. This is a much newer solution for people who wish to avoid a crown bonded to a metal base. Ceramic is stronger than porcelain so offers a more long-lasting crown, however the price reflects this.

Our favoured approach

Here at CK Dental Practice in Bristol we will look at where your crown will be and discuss with you the best solution. One of the most important things to consider is the place in your mouth where the crown will be. If it is covering one of your front teeth and will be in clear view, you may wish to consider a more expensive material that will make the match with your other teeth more seamless.

Alternatively, if the crown is to be further back in your mouth your priorities may be different. A more cost effective, stronger component, one that offers very slightly less aesthetically pleasing results may be a better option to cover a tooth that will be less visible.

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Understanding root planing

gum disease treatmentThe variety of services and offerings that are available from our dentists has grown exponentially in recent years. Gone are the days of a simple scale and polish being the ‘upgrade’ on a routine check up, now dentists can offer an extensive suite of treatments to keep your teeth and gums in tip top condition.

One such new treatment is root planing, which is a non-surgical, deep-cleaning procedure. It is particularly helpful for patients who are suffering from (or who might be prone to developing) gum disease.

So what can I expect from root planing?

Root planing involves ‘sanding down’ the rougher, accessible areas on the surface of the roots. Once these are perfectly smooth it makes it much harder for bacteria to survive, creates less of an opportunity for plaque and tartar to form and allows your teeth and gums the best possible conditions to bond together firmly.

The procedure is often carried out over several sittings to ensure that it is working effectively and to minimise patient discomfort. Patients will often be left with temporarily sensitive, tender gums after the procedure so it is advised by the dentist that one side at a time is done, so that it does not affect the ability of the patient to eat and drink afterwards. A local anaesthetic is usually administered to ensure that patients feel no pain during the procedure.

Root planing is often carried out in tandem with a tooth scaling procedure, ensuring that your teeth and gums are left pristine. It is sometimes undertaken by the dentist and sometimes by the dental hygienist

What happens next?

As well as adhering to a regular brushing schedule and ensuring that your oral hygiene is optimal, after a root planing treatment you will benefit from regular check ups to ensure that your teeth and gums are faring well and that if the need for additional treatment arises it is caught nice and early.

Here at CK Dental Practice in Bristol we know that prevention is better than cure, and will work with you to ensure that you know how to maintain healthy teeth and gums. We will also help you understand all the ways in which we can help support you with this.

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