A dental crown is sort of like a permanent helmet for a vulnerable tooth. It can be placed on your tooth to last for a very long time. A dental crown can offer protection for a tooth that may have been severely decayed or damaged. A crown is often placed after a root canal treatment. There are different reasons for restoring a tooth with a crown, but did you know that there are also different types of dental crowns? Crowns can be made out of different materials; the material used will depend on several factors. Factors such as placement in the smile and cosmetic goals can all play into the type of crown chosen to restore a tooth. Your dental team in Lafayette, LA can help you understand a crown’s role in your smile in order for you to choose the best type of crown for you.
Types of Crowns
- Metal
- Crowns made entirely of metal are the most durable types of crown. They make for a good cap for a tooth in the back of the smile where durability is king. A tooth in the back of the smile does a lot of the heavy duty work of chewing food. A metal crown can withstand the wear and tear that a back tooth may sustain.
- Porcelain
- For a tooth in the front of the smile, you may not want a crown made entirely of metal. A porcelain crown can serve a cosmetic purpose while also having a durability similar to your tooth’s enamel.
- Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)
- For both durability and blendable appearance, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can provide the best of both worlds. These types of crown are made of metal with an outer shell of porcelain.
- Zirconia
- Zirconia crowns have a similar appearance to porcelain crowns, but with the durability of a metal crown.
Do you need to choose a crown for your smile?
Any type of dental crown can help restore your smile. To schedule a consultation, call the office of Michael J. Young, DDS, in Lafayette, LA, at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients from Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities.