Ceramic dental crowns are natural-looking replacements for damaged and missing teeth. Dental crown or dental cap are common terms that both describe the top of the tooth above the root. The dental crown replaces the visible part of the tooth. When the tooth's root is missing or must be replaced, a dental implant provides a permanent artificial tooth root, and a dental bridge allows one or more crowns to be placed between existing teeth.
Types of dental crowns
There are generally three types of crowns: gold crowns, all-ceramic caps, and ceramic veneered gold crowns. Gold and metal-ceramic crowns are durable and are typically used on molars, where chewing and grinding forces are most prevalent. Ceramic crowns are primarily used on front teeth because they can best resemble natural tooth color and are more pleasing to the eye.
All-ceramic dental crowns
The most attractive, natural, and life-like crowns are those that reflect light like a healthy natural tooth. Dental crown materials that more closely match the light refraction index of a natural tooth will appear similar, if not identical, to an adjacent natural tooth. This should hold true under different lighting conditions, including sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent indoor lighting, and nightclub lighting. The all-ceramic crown is the best choice for achieving the most natural-looking tooth replacement.
Porcelain ceramic crowns fused to gold
For a very natural appearance and added strength, porcelain crowns fused to gold offer a solution for more natural-looking artificial teeth for dental molars towards the back of the mouth. Porcelain is a higher-density ceramic that provides greater strength. These crowns have a metal substructure and require an opaque layer below the porcelain. This makes it difficult to match the translucency of natural teeth.
Gold dental crowns
Gold crowns are chosen when appearance isn't a top concern. Gold is highly malleable, allowing for a more precise fit than other materials. While porcelain crowns carry a slight risk of chipping, gold crowns do not pose this risk.