The Ultimate Guide on Common Crown and Bridge Materials

 

Dental crowns and bridges are the fixed dental restorations often recommended for patients with one or more missing teeth. Since the gap created by missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to shift into empty spaces, it becomes essential for patients to close these spaces through customized dental crowns and bridges. Besides, when missing teeth are left untreated, they can also cause gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

 

Since every person has a unique bite, teeth shade, shape, and size, dentists need to stay in touch with a reliable dental crown and bridge lab consistently to get dental crowns and bridges with custom designs and preferred materials. To help you understand different options, today, we are going to share common crown and bridge materials that are popular among both dentists and patients.

 Full Cast Gold

When it comes to choosing from noble metals for crowns and bridges, full-cast gold is a traditional option for dental restorations when it comes to fitting posterior crowns and bridges.

 

Due to high gold content, they are softer and more flexible than traditional alloys and porcelain fused to metals. This means full-cast gold crowns and bridges can more easily adjust in the limited occlusal space without getting cracked or chipped.

 

As a result, full-cast gold restoration is an ideal choice for all those patients who have one or more missing teeth in the backside and want more comfort and functionality.

 

It provides exceptional value to patients who prefer the look of a gold crown. Besides, patients can choose from the base, noble, and high noble yellow gold depending on their budget.

 

Zirconia

Zirconia is the name for a metal oxide derived from Zirconium metal that belongs to the titanium family. It comes with very high natural strength and durability, which makes it a great material option for dental crowns and bridges.

 

It is at least three times stronger than all-porcelain or PFM restoration and can withstand normal wear and tear without chipping or cracking. Besides, zirconia can also tolerate extreme chewing and bruxism.

 

Hence, Zirconia crowns are ideal for those patients who need posterior crowns because posterior teeth are subjected to frequent and high impact force during chewing and grinding food.

 

Since Zirconia crowns don’t come with any metal lining, they allow patients to smile confidently. Plus, they are also more durable and can be customized to meet the unique needs of patients.

 

E.max

E.max crowns are the latest and most expensive solution for dental restorations and are engineered using lithium disilicate ceramic. This material is widely demanded for its translucent color and elevated durability.

 

When it comes to making the best choice, E.max is preferred even over Zirconium and other options as it is tougher and more durable. Crowns made from E.max can look exactly like your teeth as they come in the closest color that matches your natural teeth.

 

The only downside is the price but they are worth paying extra due to their innumerable benefits that no other option can offer.

 

Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)

While you can also have your crowns and bridges made from all-porcelain due to better aesthetics, porcelain fused to metal is often preferred because of the higher strength it comes with.

 

For many years, PFM crowns have been considered the gold standard when it comes to repairing damaged or missing teeth. They come with excellent mechanical properties, satisfactory aesthetics, and acceptable biocompatibility for optimal periodontal health.

 

So, when it comes to choosing between various materials for dental restoration, dentists often factor in the suitability of material apart from the budget and preference of their patients. Once they know all these things, then they place custom orders for dental restoration prosthetics at their trusted crown and bridge labs.