Ceramic Crowns & Metal Ceramic Crowns - What Differentiate Them?

A dental crown is a tool that is often used by dentists to fix a variety of problems that can alter the appearance of your teeth and your smile. This cap-like object is placed over the tooth to cover weak teeth as well as chipped, discoloured and broken teeth. It can also be used when a filling has left a large open space in the tooth that has been hollowed out in the course of the treatment. There are many kinds of crowns available today including ceramic, metal, stainless steel, porcelain, milled and even entirely resin crowns. While the suitably of each one finally depends on the patient, the most commonly used crowns are ceramic and metal-ceramic crowns. Read on to know the difference between the two.

Definition: While a ceramic crown is made up of a glass-like substance like porcelain, a metal-ceramic crown is one that is basically metal, which has been fused with porcelain. These are called porcelain fused to metal crowns and usually have a metal base that forms the interior of the crown.

Durability: The metal-ceramic crowns are known for their durability with plenty of strength and a better fit. Meanwhile, the ceramic crowns are not considered to be as robust due to the porcelain makeup of the structure. They are best suited for the front teeth and cannot really sustain for a long period as far as the insides of the jaws go, as the chewing and biting motion can render cracks and chips in the surface after a certain point of time.

Aesthetics: While the ceramic crown is definitely a better and more natural-looking option, the metal-ceramic crown has a metal side, which can show up as well. It may not be too different as far as looks go, due to the porcelain coating of the crown. Yet, one has to remember that due to the durability factor, the metal interior will hold on much longer than the ceramic crown as the latter may start to show when the gums begin to recede.

Fabrication: Both these types of crowns are fabricated using pretty much the same procedure. Yet, the structural weakness in the metal-ceramic crowns may come from the fact that the fabrication procedure is slightly more complex as the metal has to be fused into the ceramic structure of the crown. Both types of crowns have a similar thickness and lustre at the end of the day.

Expenses: The ceramic crown is a slightly less expensive option as compared to the metal-ceramic crown mainly due to the material used as well as the fabrication process.