Are custom made restorations (of ceramic, gold or combination of both) to cover or ‘cap’ extensively damaged or compromised teeth which cannot be restored to strength, health and appearance with a more conservative treatment option.

Uses: restore teeth which are: badly damaged, root canal treated, heavily filled, stained, mis-shapen or mal-aligned. See porfolio.

3 Basic Crown Types

• PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal)
• All Ceramic
• Full Gold

PFM (PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL) CROWN

Comprised of a metal core (substructure/coping), usually a gold alloy for strength, with an outer layer of porcelain to mimic tooth colour, shape and function.

Indicated where esthetics must balance strength.

Limitations:

• High Esthetic Demand Situations - because the underlying metal does not allow  transmission and reflection of light (see image), getting the PFM crown to look natural can sometimes be difficult with respect to the surrounding gum colour (i.e. dark band of gum tissue where PFM meets the gum tissue) and reproducing transluncency/luminocity of natural tooth
• Short Teeth - the preparation of the PFM crown requires a reduction on the biting surface of the tooth of about 1.5 - 2.0mm in order to provide the adequate thickness of metal and porcelain for strength and esthetics, if a tooth is already short this necessary reduction may compromise the retention of the crown 
• Patients with Destructive Parafuntional Habits - in such cases, because porcelain is essentially glass, uncontrolled and/or excessive forces can chip and fracture the porcelain.
• Patients with gold or metal allergies

ALL CERAMIC CROWN

Comprised of a non-metal core (substructure/coping), usually a pressed ceramic, aluminum oxide or zirconia for strength, with an outer layer of porcelain to mimic tooth colour, shape and function. 

Indicated in high esthetic demand situations and where patient has metal allergy or preference for restorations with no metal.

Limitations:

• Short Teeth - the preparation of the All Ceramic crown requires a reduction on the biting surface of the tooth of about 1.5 - 2.0mm in order to provide adequate thickness for the coping and porcelain for strength and esthetics, if a tooth is already short this necessary reduction may compromise the retention of the crown 
• Patients with Destructive Parafuntional Habits - in such cases, because porcelain is essentially glass , uncontrolled and/or excessive forces can chip and fracture the porcelain.

FULL GOLD CROWN

Composed of high gold alloy metal, no porcelain, custom-made to mimic shape, strength and function of natural tooth.

Indicated in areas where high strength is paramount and or natural esthetics is not a priority eg. patients who are heavy bruxers (grinders) and posterior molar regions.

Limitations:

• High esthetic demand areas
• Patients with gold or metal allergies