Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Dental Crowns
Initially, crowns were made from gold or other strong metals, but somewhere along the way, progress in the development of materials and fabrication meant the worlds of strength and aesthetics could be combined. Blending metal’s strength with porcelain’s aesthetic advantage into one crown, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns were layered for optimal benefits. Unfortunately, in spite of best dental efforts, for many who have sported these crowns, the metal base under the porcelain creates the appearance of a black line at the spot on your gum tissue where the crown ends. This negates the positive aesthetic intentions of the porcelain.
Other Dental Crown Options
To avoid black lines, there are materials such as pressed white porcelain, zirconium, or lithium disilicate crowns. These particular materials provide long lasting durability which may not be quite as strong as metal, but should last with proper care, nonetheless. Unlike crowns in the past that were obvious because of the shiny metal they were made from, modern dental crowns are custom shaded to match your surrounding teeth. Not only do they blend in with the rest of your teeth, but they also reflect light, much like tooth enamel.
ABOUT YOUR LINCOLNSHIRE DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.