Which Crown is Best For You?

A crown is a covering that is placed over a damaged tooth to restore natural function. While the word crown seems to mean they are all the same, this is not true and it’s important for you and your dentist to determine which crown is the best for your unique circumstance.

“Determining what type of crown is best for you is something that should be discussed with your dentist as a number of factors play a role,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her HemetValley Dental Practice.

Things your dentists will keep in mind when making his or her recommendation:

1.   The position of the tooth in which the crown is being placed.

2.   The way the teeth bite together

3.   Your natural smile and what teeth show

4.   Whether you might have a metal allergy or sensitivity

For front or anterior teeth, cosmetics play a role. “Your dentist will weigh the factors to choose the best crown for your mouth thinking about how the teeth come together and determining which will show the same translucency as your natural teeth to give you the best esthetic result,” adds Dr. Ko.

When the tooth being crown is a posterior tooth, strength will be a factor. These teeth need to stand up to the intense biting, chewing and grinding of food.

Sometimes when a patient smiles they have a naturally toothy smile which means that molars may show and so both strength and cosmetics will need to play a role in the final product.

Finally, if the crown is going to have a metal substructure, your dentist will want to ensure that the metal used will not create problems with the surrounding gum tissue.

When your dentist recommends a crown, ask questions. Not all crowns are created equal.