Types of Dental Crowns: Benefits & Procedure

Key Takeaways

• The main crown materials are all-ceramic, zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), gold or metal alloy, and resin. Stainless steel crowns are used mostly on baby teeth.
• Ceramic crowns look the most natural. Gold and zirconia handle heavy chewing forces best.
• A traditional crown takes two visits and a temporary crown. A same-day CEREC crown is designed, milled, and placed in one appointment.
• Crowns commonly last 5 to 15 years, and grinding or poor flossing shortens that.

What Are the Main Types of Dental Crowns?

About 15 million people in the US have crown and bridge replacements, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. The main types of dental crowns are all-ceramic (porcelain), zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), gold or metal alloy, and resin. Stainless steel crowns are used mainly for children’s baby teeth.

If you’ve just been told you need a crown, choosing a material can feel like one more decision on top of the news itself. The right choice depends on where the tooth sits, how hard you bite, and how much the crown will show when you smile. Dental crown treatment takes one or two visits, and knowing how each material behaves makes that conversation with your dentist much easier.

Comparing the Different Types of Dental Crowns

Here is how the different types of dental crowns compare:

All-Ceramic or Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain reflects light much like natural enamel, so these crowns blend in well on front teeth. They contain no metal, which suits patients with metal allergies. Their weakness is chipping under heavy biting forces, especially on molars.

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia is a ceramic that withstands heavier forces than other ceramic crowns. Solid zirconia works well on back teeth and for people who grind. It can look slightly more opaque than porcelain, so dentists often layer porcelain over it for front teeth.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns

A PFM crown has a metal base covered with tooth-colored porcelain. These crowns last almost as long as all-metal crowns. If the gums recede, though, a thin dark line can show at the gum line, and the porcelain layer can chip.

Gold and Metal Alloy Crowns

Metal crowns are the most durable option and need the least tooth removal. Gold is also gentle on the opposing teeth. The metallic color is the obvious drawback, so most patients reserve them for back molars that don’t show.

Resin Crowns

Resin crowns wear down and fracture more easily than other materials. Dentists mostly use resin for temporary crowns while a permanent one is being made.

Stainless Steel Crowns

These prefabricated crowns protect a decayed baby tooth until it falls out naturally. Adults rarely receive them except as a short-term measure.

Quick Comparison of the Types of Dental Crowns

Here is a side-by-side comparison:

Which Dental Crown Types Work Best for Front vs. Back Teeth?

Front teeth need appearance more than raw strength. Molars take most of your chewing force. That split guides most choices among dental crown types.

For front teeth, all-ceramic or layered zirconia usually gives the most natural result. For molars, solid zirconia, gold, or PFM holds up better. A review of crown survival studies found that all-ceramic crowns on back teeth had the poorest survival of the crown types studied.

A few other factors can change the recommendation. Nighttime grinding, a known metal allergy, and how much healthy tooth structure remains all play a part. A tooth that has had a root canal is often brittle and benefits from a stronger material even if it sits toward the front.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?

The main benefits of dental crowns are protection and restored function:

• A crown holds a cracked or heavily filled tooth together so it can handle normal chewing.
• It also covers a root canal-treated tooth and restores the shape of a worn or broken one.
• In many cases, it saves a tooth that would otherwise need extraction.

Crowns have some downsides too:

• Placing one means permanently removing some healthy enamel.
• Some patients notice temperature sensitivity for a few weeks afterward.
• A crown can also loosen or chip over time, and the tooth underneath can still decay at the edge where the crown meets the tooth.

What Is the Dental Crown Procedure?

A traditional dental crown procedure usually takes two visits, about two to three weeks apart. The steps are:

1. The exam and X-rays check the root and surrounding bone.
2. Local anesthetic numbs the tooth and gum.
3. Shaping removes a thin outer layer of the tooth to make room for the crown.
4. An impression or digital scan records the shaped tooth.
5. A temporary crown goes on to protect the tooth.
6. A dental lab makes the permanent crown from the impression.
7. At the second visit, the temporary crown comes off.
8. Your dentist checks the permanent crown’s fit, bite, and color.
9. The permanent crown is cemented in place.

What Are Same-Day CEREC Crowns?

CEREC skips the temporary crown and the second visit. Your dentist scans the tooth digitally, designs the crown on a computer, and mills it from a ceramic block in the office, usually within a single appointment. Dr. Anna Clayton at Hopkins Family Dentistry often suggests CEREC for patients who find it hard to schedule a second visit.

Same-day crowns don’t suit every case. A tooth with decay extending deep below the gum line, or a case that calls for a gold crown, may still need a traditional lab-made crown.

How Long Do Crowns Last and How Do You Care for Them?

Most crowns last five to 15 years, and some last much longer with good care. The same PubMed review found that about 95% of crowns remain in place for at least five years.

Daily care is simple but important:

• Floss carefully where the crown meets the gum, because that edge is where new decay starts.
• Avoid chewing ice or using your teeth to open packaging.
• If you grind at night, a custom night guard protects both the crown and your natural teeth.
• Regular exams let your dentist catch a loose or worn crown early.

Choosing the Right Crown for Your Tooth

The best of the types of dental crown for you depends on the tooth’s position, your bite, and whether one visit or two fits your schedule. Bring your questions to the exam. Ask which materials would work for your specific tooth, and whether a same-day CEREC crown is an option.

At Hopkins Family Dentistry, Dr. Anna Clayton reviews your X-rays and bite before recommending a material. That way, the choice is based on your tooth rather than a default. To book a crown consultation, visit our dental office in Hopkins, MN.

Address: 1919 Main Street, Hopkins, MN 55343

Phone: (952)935-2121

Frequently Asked Questions