Crowns on Front Teeth: Materials and What to Ask
A crown on a back molar is mostly a question of how well it holds up. On a front tooth it is that and more, because the result is on display every time you talk. The material is part of what decides how it looks, so it is worth knowing what the options are before anyone asks you to pick one.
What a crown is
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth, and dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and root canal-treated teeth. A crown fits over the entire tooth, and a small amount of enamel is removed before it is bonded in place (Cleveland Clinic).
A separate article covers what crowns are in more general terms. There is also one on veneers versus crowns.
The materials
Crowns may be made of all metal, porcelain fused to metal, or all-ceramic (porcelain) (American College of Prosthodontists). Zirconia and resin crowns are covered below as well. Which material belongs on a particular tooth is a judgement for the dentist who can see yours.
Metal
Metal crowns rarely chip or break and last the longest in terms of wear. The metallic color is the main drawback of this type of crown, and metal is a good choice for out-of-sight molars (Cleveland Clinic).
Porcelain fused to metal
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns combine the durability of metal and the natural look of porcelain, and they can restore both front and back teeth. The drawback is that the porcelain coating may chip over time (Cleveland Clinic).
All-ceramic or porcelain
All-ceramic or porcelain crowns mimic the appearance of tooth enamel more than any other crown type (Cleveland Clinic).
Zirconia
Zirconia crowns are extremely durable (Cleveland Clinic).
Resin
Crowns made out of resin are generally less expensive than other types of crowns, and they are more fragile (Cleveland Clinic).
How long crowns last
Crowns last between five and 15 years with proper care (Cleveland Clinic). That range is for crowns in general; it isn't broken down by material.
What to ask
The material is one of the few parts of this you can usefully ask about before the work starts. A few questions worth bringing:
- Which materials would work on this tooth, and which would you use?
- How will the color be matched to the teeth beside it?
- What are the trade-offs between the options you offer for a tooth this visible?
- How long would you expect this crown to last in my mouth?
- What will it cost, and what will my insurance cover?
- What happens if it chips or needs replacing later?
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. If you are not a patient with us yet, start with our first-visit page.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. "Dental Crowns." Updated 2023-04-14. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10923-dental-crowns
- American College of Prosthodontists. "Caps and Crowns." https://www.gotoapro.org/caps-and-crowns/
