What’s in a Crown? Here’s How Materials Compare

Getting a crown? Find out the benefits behind the different materials available to you, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

	All-porcelain	Porcelain fused to metal	Gold, copper, and base metal alloys
Durability	Brittle, may fracture under heavy biting loads¹	Very strong and durable¹	High corrosion resistance prevents tarnishing; high strength and toughness resist fracture and wear¹
Resistance to wear	Highly resistant to wear, but can rapidly wear opposing teeth if its surface becomes rough¹		Resistant to wear and gentle to opposing teeth¹
Resistance to fracture	Prone to fracture when placed under tension or on impact¹	Porcelain is prone to impact fracture; metal is strong¹	Highly resistant to fracture¹
Sensitivity	Low thermal conductivity reduces likelihood of discomfort from heat and cold¹	May result in early post-placement discomfort from heat and cold¹	May result in early post-placement discomfort from heat and cold¹
Aesthetics	Color and translucency mimic natural tooth appearance¹	Can mimic natural tooth appearance, but metal limits translucency¹	Metal colors do not mimic natural teeth.¹

¹ “Dental Materials: Comparison of Indirect Restorative Dental Materials.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/3416.aspx Accessed 2010.

Online Editor: Sims, Jane
Online Medical Reviewer: Eakle, Stephan W., DDS
Online Medical Reviewer: Weber, Hans-Peter, DMD
Date Last Reviewed: 12/9/2010
Date Last Modified: 12/9/2010

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