Tooth-colored crowns used to be made of porcelain and metal. In order to withstand the force of biting and chewing, crowns had to be built around a metal core that would show up as a thin blue line at the base of the crown. Originally, this was the only way for porcelain to be fixed to the teeth, and it was very strong and durable as well.
In those days, people were happy just to have a crown that resembled a natural tooth?even though the obtrusive presence of the metal was apparent to anyone who some them smile. Over time, however, as with all new things that cease to be new, people began to notice other flaws in their design. Crowns fused to metal have a somewhat artificial opacity, and the metal that holds them to teeth can cause the gum line to turn black.
New technology and new cosmetic dental techniques now make it possible to make all porcelain crowns that look natural and restore the beauty of your smile. All porcelain crowns are more translucent than their opaque equivalents of the past. Because of this, they are much more difficult to distinguish from natural teeth. Because there is no metal, there is no dark line formed at the edge of the gum. In fact, all porcelain crowns are placed above the gum line on the tooth, which is healthier for the gums as well.
There are two types of all porcelain crowns: bonded and extra strength.
Dentists prefer to use bonded all porcelain crowns on the front teeth. While the type of porcelain is not very strong, the way it is bonded to the tooth adds strength to its form and substance, turning it into a durable, reliable chewing surface. General dentistry schools do not normally train their graduates in the special techniques necessary to place these crowns, so it is strongly recommended that patients who need them come to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center to have them properly bonded to the teeth. When properly placed, they look almost impossible to distinguish from natural teeth. Their only disadvantage is they are sometimes too weak to place along back teeth.
In these instances, cosmetic dentists will use extra strength all porcelain crowns. These are made from very advanced, newer types of ceramic that do not have to be bonded. Because they can be placed without specialized training in bonding procedures, general dentists may opt to use them as an alternative to porcelain metal crowns.
The absence of a metal core makes them less obtrusive to the smile, but their distinctly visible white core is still noticeably artificial. Also, while there is nothing to cause a black line to form along the gum line, the noticeable color difference is yet another indicator of artificial material. To compensate for this, cosmetic dentists try to use extra strength porcelain crowns only in the back of the mouth where they will be more or less concealed from view.
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