A dental crown is often the choice of restoration for a tooth that has been badly damaged by decay or trauma where a filling just won’t do. It’s shaped to resemble a tooth and matched in colour and size to your other teeth to give a seamless appearance. More importantly, it’s a replacement for a tooth and as such needs to be strong and durable and fit for the purpose. Most people expect their crowns in Bournemouth or any other town or city, to last for at least 10 years; so what sort of materials are capable of lasting that long and work well?

Metal

Crowns used to be made exclusively from metals such as gold, nickel and palladium and as such metal is the ideal material for a crown. The reason being that not so much of the natural tooth has to be removed and because metal is so hard wearing, it lasts for a long time. The downside is that they don’t look particularly attractive.

Porcelain and metal

This is one of the most common choices for a dental crown, especially if it is to be used towards the back of the mouth, where you need strength, but you also want it to look good; well on the top at least. It wears more than an all metal crown but in a way it provides the best of both worlds, by looking good and being strong.

Resin

Just occasionally resin may be chosen as the material for a crown because it is cheaper. However, most people don’t choose this type of crown because the price reflects its quality and they are more prone to fractures and wear down quickly.

Porcelain/ceramic

From an aesthetic point of view these types of crown are the most visually appealing and are commonly used for front teeth. They look amazing since their translucent properties make them look very similar to real teeth, but because they don’t contain any metal they’re not that strong. Fortunately front teeth don’t involve too much pressure being put on the crown and this non-metal option gives teeth a lovely white colour without any tell-tale shadow from the metal.

Zirconia

These crowns are the newest additions to the dental industry and are usually constructed using digital techniques in a laboratory. Zirconia is exceptionally strong and offers good resilience to wear and tear. It also looks good with a translucence that makes for a very natural looking tooth. It’s bio-compatible and contains no metal, which makes it the very best choice if your Bournemouth dentist offers it and you can afford the price tag that accompanies it.

If you have a damaged tooth then we can help restore it. Why not contact Queens Park Dental on 01202 303322 to book a consultation or contact us via our website at www.queensparkdental.co.uk where we can take a look and discuss your best options. In a dental emergency, please contact us straight away. Besides crowns in Bournemouth we also offer other tooth restoration options including dental implants.