In the past, dental crowns were always made with a metal foundation. However, these days, it’s possible to have porcelain tooth crowns or even ones made from ceramic or aesthetic reinforced resin. These provide natural looking teeth.

Porcelain crowns are used when teeth are badly broken, or when there are large fillings or a big area of tooth decay that cannot be fixed with a filling. Porcelain crowns are typically used on the front teeth, where appearance is important, while metal ones provide more support in the back.

Procedure information
People require porcelain tooth crowns for a variety of reasons, from teeth grinding to tooth decay which can cause wear, cracks or breakage of the teeth. The dentist will take an impression of the tooth that needs a crown and then sends it to a dental lab for the crown to be created.

Sometimes the patient receives a temporary crown to wear while the permanent one is being made, which takes 1 to 2 weeks. The dentist will reshape the remaining tooth to prepare it for the crown. The permanent crown is then cemented to the tooth with long-lasting cement.

Recovery time
After the procedure to install the porcelain crown, you should avoid eating and drinking for a few hours to let the adhesive set properly. However, there won’t be any pain and the results should be beautiful.

Porcelain tooth crowns can last 10 to 15 years. They should be cared for as you would your natural teeth, with regular brushing. The color will change over time if you smoke and/or drink coffee.