Porcelain Crowns

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.