Metal Capping of teeth

Metals have been used for dental crowns longer than any other material, and they're still being used today because of their durability and cost-effectiveness. If you think a metal crown may be best for your damaged tooth, we'll break down the benefits and disadvantages to ensure you end up with a crown that makes you smile.

What Are the Benefits of Metal Crowns?

Metals are popular for crowns because they're strong and tend to be more affordable than other tooth capping options. Their durability also makes them a great material choice for your back teeth because they take on more pressure when you chew than your other teeth do.

• Gold alloy crowns are a mix of gold and another metal – usually copper, zinc, platinum, silver, or palladium. Gold alloys bond extremely securely to teeth, won't fracture or wear, and won't wear down surrounding teeth.
• Base metal alloys like nickel and chromium are strong and highly resistant to corrosion, too. Base metal caps require the least amount of healthy enamel to adhere to, making them a good choice for extremely decayed or broken teeth.

The drawbacks to metal dental crowns

The drawback to metal dental crowns is that they are not the same shade as natural teeth. Ceramic crowns closely match the shade of natural teeth and are indistinguishable while worn. While traditional metal alloy crowns are not nearly as visible as gold alloy crowns, they still do not offer the same level of aesthetic advantage that ceramic crowns do.

When metal dental crowns are recommended

Metal dental crowns are recommended for teeth farther back in the mouth, in which the appearance of the teeth is less important. However, they are not as ideal for more visible teeth, especially those that are not used for grinding and crushing food (front teeth).