Ceramic Crowns
A dental crown is a custom-made cap that covers a weak, broken, or decayed tooth, restoring its strength and appearance. It fits over the entire tooth like a protective shell. To ensure a perfect fit, the dentist removes a small layer of enamel before securing the crown in place. Crowns are made from various materials, including resin, metal, and porcelain, offering durability and a natural look.
A dental crown is a custom-made cap that restores and protects a damaged, decayed, weak, or worn-down tooth. Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and teeth after root canal treatment. Available in materials like metal, resin, and porcelain, crowns can last between 5 to 15 years with proper care.
Types of dental crowns
The right crown depends on your oral health needs and preferences.
Metal Crowns
- Made from gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium.
- Extremely durable and resistant to wear.
- Require minimal enamel removal.
- Best for molars due to their metallic color.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
- Combine metal strength with a natural porcelain look.
- Can match the shade of natural teeth.
- Porcelain may chip over time, exposing metal.
- May cause enamel wear on opposing teeth.
- Suitable for both front and back teeth.
Pressed Ceramic Crowns
- Have a hard ceramic core instead of metal.
- Multiple porcelain layers mimic natural enamel.
- Can chip over time, similar to PFM crowns.
- Used for front and back teeth.
All-Ceramic or Porcelain Crowns
- Provide the most natural tooth appearance.
- Ideal for those with metal allergies.
- Zirconia crowns are highly durable and gentle on opposing teeth.
Same-Day Crowns
- Created using CAD/CAM technology in a single visit.
- Designed with digital impressions and milled on-site.
- Not suitable for everyone—consult your dentist.
All-Resin Crowns
- More affordable but less durable.
- Prone to breaking compared to PFM crowns.
- Often used as temporary crowns.
- Last about 3 to 5 years.
Procedure Details
The procedure usually requires two visits.
First Visit
- Tooth Preparation – The dentist removes some enamel to create space for the crown. A filling may be used to build up the tooth if needed.
- Dental Impressions – The dentist takes physical or digital impressions and sends them to a dental lab for crown fabrication.
- Temporary Crown Placement – A temporary resin or acrylic crown is placed while the permanent one is made (takes 2–3 weeks).
Second Visit
- The dentist removes the temporary crown.
- They check the shape, color, and fit of the new crown.
- The permanent crown is bonded to the tooth with strong dental cement.