Dental Crowns: What’s your Type?

When you succumb to tooth decay, your dentist will hopefully be able to catch the cavity early on. If you are going to your dentist for six month checkups, there is a much higher chance of prevention or early detection. However, if you ignore your dental health by not brushing frequently or avoiding regular dental appointments, you could end up with worse than a cavity. When decay is left alone, it can go into the roots of teeth and require a much more invasive restoration. A dental crown is usually recommended in this case to provide support to what remains of your tooth structure.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Dental Crowns

Initially, crowns were made from gold or other strong, precious metals. Along the way, materials were developed to try and offer the best of both worlds – metal’s strength with porcelain’s cosmetic advantage. These porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns consist of a layering of strong and aesthetic materials. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the metal base under the porcelain can create the appearance of a black line at the spot on your gum tissue where the crown ends. This is a result of the metal edge of the crown.

Better Dental Crown Options

To avoid black lines, Dr. Engelberg usually recommends white porcelain or zirconium crowns as opposed to metal crowns. These particular materials provide long lasting durability while still looking like natural teeth. Unlike crowns in the past that were obvious because of the sheen of metal, modern dental crowns are custom shaded to match your surrounding teeth. Not only do they blend in with the rest of your teeth, but they also reflect light much like tooth enamel.

ABOUT YOUR ROLLING MEADOWS DENTIST:

Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.