When To Consider A Metal Dental Crown

Dental crowns, which dentists use to cap damaged or weak teeth, are available in different materials. The common materials include metal, porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia. The materials all have their pros and cons that make them suitable for specific circumstances. Below are some reasons to consider metal crowns.

The Damaged Tooth Experiences Daily Pressure

Some types of teeth experience more regular pressure than others. For example, molars and premolars experience considerable pressure since you use them for chewing. The regular pressure triggers wear and tear, leading to premature dental crown damage.

Regular pressure affects some dental crown materials more than others. Metal is a material that doesn't suffer much damage from regular pressure. Therefore, you should consider metal crowns for teeth subject to regular pressure, and your dental restoration will last a long time.

Metal strength also means metal crowns are suitable for those with dental habits likely to damage teeth. For example, you should get metal dental crowns if you chew your nails or grind your teeth since such habits might damage other crown materials.

Aesthetics Is Not Much of a Concern

Many people want dental restorations, such as crowns, to resemble their natural teeth as much as possible. Some dental crown materials, such as ceramics, easily mimic natural teeth's color. However, most of the metals that dental laboratories use for crown manufacturing have distinctive colors that look nothing like natural teeth.

As such, consider metal crowns if aesthetics is not your main concern. For example, you can use metal crowns farther back in the mouth where others won't notice the restorations. You can also use metal crowns on the front teeth if you don't consider them unsightly.

The Tooth Is Worn and Weak

The dentist will remove some enamel from your tooth to prepare it for the dental crown. The preparation reshapes and reduces the tooth's size to ensure the crown fits perfectly. However, enamel removal and reshaping is a concern for weak, damaged, or sensitive teeth, which teeth preparation can worsen. Luckily, metal dental crowns require minimal teeth preparation.

The Surrounding Teeth Are Weak

Dental crowns cause some wear to other nearby teeth. The problem is worse if the surrounding teeth are already weak—for example, if they show enamel damage. Lastly, get a dental crown if the teeth around the damaged tooth are highly susceptible to wear or enamel erosion.

Talk to your dentist about dental crown materials. The dentist will help you choose the best material for your circumstances.