Safest Teeth Whiteners
The safest ways to whiten your teeth explained
Dental crowns are recommended for teeth that have had previous tooth decay, root canals, or trauma. When a tooth is missing substantial structure, it does not have the support to withstand biting forces.
Gold dental crowns have been used for thousands of years. They have biocompatible properties and material benefits like strength and malleability.
These days, gold crowns are not as popular because of their high price and poor esthetics. Instead, other types of crowns like porcelain are more popular because of their highly esthetic properties.
Technically, a gold crown can restore any tooth, but they are traditionally placed on back teeth because of their strength. Gold crowns can withstand forces from chewing without chipping or fracturing.
Some people will opt for gold crowns on their front teeth as a fashion statement or cultural purpose. It is common to see people opting for gold teeth grills or front teeth as a status symbol.
Dental crowns traditionally have very similar steps. However, gold crowns require less reduction of tooth structure than other types of crowns.
The steps of a gold crown procedure include:
Gold crowns are highly durable crowns and can withstand significant chewing forces. They will not break down as quickly as other types of crowns and are the best choice for strength.
If you are a heavy grinder, a gold crown may be beneficial because it is strong and durable to withstand biting pressure without breaking. They are an excellent option for people who have TMJ problems and bruxism habits.
Gold crowns are strong and, with proper maintenance, can last up to twenty years. Some people will have a gold crown for even longer if they brush and floss regularly and attend routine dental visits.
There are several benefits of gold crowns to your oral health.
Many people choose a gold crown because it has a higher success rate than other types in terms of durability. Your dental professional can discuss the entire process, fees, and aftercare with you.
Other advantages include:
The most common downsides of a gold crown include:
Gold is much stronger than porcelain in terms of strength and can withstand stronger forces. This means that it is more likely for your porcelain crown to be worn down over time from occluding teeth or chewing than gold crowns.
Molars used for chewing are better off with a gold crown because less tooth structure needs to be removed. A thin gold crown is still very strong and can protect a tooth, whereas more tooth structure needs to be removed to make space for a porcelain or zirconia crown.
Gold is more durable than porcelain and can last decades, if not a lifetime. Porcelain crowns offer greater esthetics but have a higher potential of breaking down and fracturing. They are more beneficial for front teeth where aesthetics are a concern. For posterior teeth, it is beneficial to get a porcelain-metal combination to maintain both aesthetics and durability.
Porcelain is also known to shrink over time and react more to chewing forces that may cause craze lines and fractures. Gold is very bendable and can make a precise fit to the tooth.
Gold crowns and porcelain crowns are a costly but beneficial investment for your oral health. Gold crowns can range in cost because gold is significantly more expensive than other materials.
Gold crowns may cost anywhere from $800 to $2,500. A porcelain crown is also expensive. They can typically range from $800 to $3,000 per tooth.
A gold crown is recommended for people who need additional support for a tooth. It is beneficial for teeth that are prone to break or that cannot withhold a traditional filling. Other situations you may need a gold crown may be:
If a gold crown falls out, you should call your dentist to re-cement, repair, or replace it to avoid any side effects to your natural tooth. If you cannot get an immediate appointment, you can try a temporary over-the-counter cement before you can get it permanently cemented.
Remember in the meantime to:
Gold crowns can range in cost from $800 to $1,400 per tooth, depending on the area of your mouth.
Most times, the high price is more dependent upon the laboratory than the dentist’s labor. Without insurance, an all-gold crown may cost up to $2,500.
There are insurance companies that will cover portions of a gold crown if it can be justified clinically that it is beneficial.
In this article