If you got a dental crown some years ago, you likely received one made out of metal. These were the standard way to patch up broken teeth for the longest time but have been largely outmoded in recent years by ceramic restorations.
This presents a choice to patients who have metal crowns—is it worth replacing their restoration or should they just stick with their current crown. You should know that there are quite a few advantages that ceramic dental crowns have over metal. Here’s why it’s usually a good idea to replace them as soon as you can.
Metal Crowns Create Sensitivity
As you might know, metal has a propensity to expand and contract based on temperature. When this happens to a dental crown placed on your tooth, it can be fairly uncomfortable—this means that most people with metal dental crowns experience sensitivity in response to hot or cold foods.
Ceramic dental crowns are considerably more stable when exposed to extreme temperatures, meaning that you won’t have to deal with any sensitivity.
Older Crowns Can Interfere with MRIs
MRIs are a complex imaging system that make use of powerful magnets. Depending on when you got your metal crown, it could potentially contain magnetic metals that interfere with the scans taken by this machine.
While nobody likes to think about needing an MRI, it’s the sort of thing that becomes very important in instances where it’s necessary. Ceramic dental crowns contain no magnetic materials, meaning that you don’t have to worry in the slightest about whether your restoration could interfere with imaging systems.
Increased Confidence
At the end of the day, even the most sophisticated metal dental crown can’t possibly pass for a real tooth. These restorations stand out from the rest of your smile, and people who have them know that. This can subconsciously stop them from smiling their widest, or even prevent them from opening their mouth fully when they speak.
If that resonates with you, you should know that ceramic dental crowns are designed to blend in perfectly. They’re absolutely beautiful, which means that if you replace your restoration you’ll be able to enjoy a smile that you can actually be proud of.
About the Author
Dr. Sean M. Altenbach loves meeting new patients and getting to know the person behind the teeth. That makes sharing his expertise with his patients all the more satisfying, and allows him to craft effective treatment plans specialized to his patients. Dr. Altenbach received his degree from the University of Florida and is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
If you have any questions about dental crowns, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (904) 448-0441.