What Are Crowns?
Crowns are indicated on teeth with more extensive decay or teeth that have had root canal treatment. Crowns fit over the entire circumference of the tooth, providing support and a barrier for the healthy tooth structure underneath.
Crowns can be made from a variety of material – metal, porcelain fused to metal or all porcelain. In most cases, Dr. Martin prefers to use all porcelain crowns. Modern porcelains, such as Zirconia are very durable and strong enough to withstand the forces of chewing and biting. Zirconia crowns have been shown to have a life expectancy equivalent to that of metal or porcelain fused to metal. Also, because all porcelain crowns are fabricated from a single material there is no risk of the porcelain separating or chipping off of the metal structure, which can happen with porcelain fused to metal crowns.