Dental crowns are the solution to tooth decay or cracked and damaged teeth. Porcelain crowns imitate our natural teeth the best. The ceramic is aesthetically preferred owing to its ability to retain the natural sheen of our teeth without losing color over time. A concise rundown of its advantages and disadvantages are as follows.
Pros of Porcelain crowns
Dark lines are nonexistent
Dental crowns with metal content usually sports a dark line over time as it becomes discolored from the natural hue of our teeth. With porcelain crowns, the ceramic does not lose its color thus retaining the natural look of our enamel throughout.
Brings out the cosmetic beauty of the teeth
Porcelain crowns are all smooth and translucent. This matches up with the size and shade of the original teeth and retains the natural look. This is best suited for restoring front teeth that rely on aesthetic perfection.
Prevents allergic reactions
Some dental crowns can result in allergic reactions in the gums and cause irritation. The ceramic used for porcelain crowns are all biocompatible and thus does not result in allergies and gum problems.
Time-efficient procedure
Most of the traditional techniques of crown replacement require multiple dental visits with a possibility of turnaround times in between. However, all-porcelain crown procedures are completed in a single appointment. It is usually a half hour process to place the crown and cement it after the tooth has been prepared for crown replacement.
Cons of using Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain is more fragile than others
The main problem with porcelain crowns is their fragility. Ceramic is not usually resistant to shocks and aggressive chewing and biting and can get chipped very easily. It can be made thicker, but that would imply that more of your original tooth is removed. It is usually most effective for front teeth as it experiences the least amount of hard biting. It is also recommended to use teeth guards during sports.
Teeth become more sensitive
Porcelain crowns can cause teeth to become hypersensitive. When a tooth becomes highly sensitive, it reacts painfully to hot and cold. When subjected to extreme temperatures, the crown can get damaged and subsequently, harm the tooth.
Possibility of improper fitting
A professional is needed to properly apply the ceramic and fit it on your tooth. Improper fittings can result in the porcelain crown to be disjointed and askew. It is meant to be attached to the gum in order to imitate the original tooth and retain proper functionality.
Expensive and requires tooth reduction
More than other types of crown replacements, porcelain crowns require more of the original tooth structure to be removed. Being a more fragile material, it needs more mass to appropriately perform its intended function. This makes porcelain crowns more expensive than is the case with other crown types.
Porcelain crowns are best for cosmetic restructuring, especially with front teeth that depend heavily on aesthetics and the way a person looks. Metal and porcelain fused metal crowns are possible cheaper alternatives, but porcelain crowns imitate the original tooth better than the rest.
