For many years there has been increasing patient
demands for improved esthetics in dental restorations. This demand has
been especially strong in the area of front teeth that require crowns
(caps). There have been many attempts to make an ALL porcelain
crown. In other words, a crown that would not have a metal substructure
under it. The reasons for wanting to eliminate the metal are primarily
to get rid of the dark line at the very edge of the crown and to let
more light pass through the porcelain (to look more lifelike). There have been
MANY attempts over the past decade or more to provide "all porcelain"
crowns. But despite what the manufacturers claim there have been problems with
the "all porcelain" systems. Experience is a great teacher......I and
many dentists that I respect do not recommend "all porcelain"
crowns.
But there have been improvements in metal based porcelain
crowns as well.
- Using gold metals instead of darker metals for a
"warmth" of color.
- Better (much better) porcelains for better colors.
- Better preparing of teeth so that there is sufficient
porcelain at the biting edges for natural light to come through.
- No metal exposed at any areas that can be seen .....what is
referred to as "porcelain margins".
The two biggest pluses with metal/porcelain crowns are....
1. Much stronger than "all
porcelain" (despite what the manufacturers claim).
2. Less tooth reduction usually.
