A Patient’s Guide to Dental Crowns

All ceramic or gold or porcelain fused to metal? Many choices are power to consumer, but not being able to choose on account of too many choices is a different deal altogether. After all, it’s not a bar of soap you’re shopping for. This post shall help you make informed choice by listing down pros and cons of different types of crowns and the places where they can be sourced affordably.

 

E-Max Crowns – All Ceramic

Most affordable place to source: The cost of E-max crowns in India is 40-70% lower than that in the U.K. or the U.S.A.

Pros:

• All ceramic durability 
•  Matches teeth color closely 
•  No metal alloy base, no grey lines near the base that resemble caries

Cons:

• Fewer fractures are reported if material thickness isn’t optimal 
• Expensive, when compared to other types of crowns

Gold Crowns – All Metal

Most affordable place to source: The cost of gold crowns in Mexico is almost half of what one would shell out in the United States.

Pros:

• Very precise crown-to-tooth fit 
• Sturdiest amongst crowns; hence, these crowns don’t chip 
• Gold alloys and tooth enamel have almost equivalent wear rate; this implies the opposing tooth wouldn’t be abraded by the gold crown

Cons:

• Gold crowns look unsightly 
• Your spouse may disapprove them; consult your spouse before you get them

PFMs – Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

Most affordable place to source: Thailand, undoubtedly

Pros:

• The durability of metal 
• Aesthetics of porcelain

Cons:

• Requires 1.5mm removal of buccal tooth 
• Lacks appeal of natural teeth due to metal opacity

Zirconia Crown – All Ceramic

The most affordable to source: Zirconia crowns come really cheap in Costa Rica. Expect savings anywhere between 40-60% on the cost of the same in the United States.

Pros:

• The crystal from which zirconia crown is carved out is practically indestructible 
• Once placed, a zirconia crown is unidentifiable from natural teeth 
• Biocompatible; hence, no allergic reactions

Cons:

• The extreme toughness takes its toll on the natural enamel of the complementing teeth Zirconia is abrasive on other teeth 
• Zirconia crown is more expensive than e-max crown

Common Problems Associated with Permanent Crowns

Irrespective of the type, almost all dental crowns have problems such as:

• Bite doesn’t seem right 
• Crowned teeth are sensitive to hot and cold 
• In some cases, damage to tooth nerves makes root canal treatment essential in future