Dental crowns have a long history dating back to the Etruscans, in the 8th to 5th century B.C. The earliest crowns were made out of materials ranging from ivory to human teeth, but gold eventually became the standard. You may assume that tooth-colored porcelain crowns are relatively new in dentistry, but as early as the late 1700’s, denture manufacturers discovered that porcelain jacket crowns could be fashioned out of hollowed out dentures. A variety of materials have been utilized in dentistry for crowns, in an effort to attain both cosmetic continuity and restorative functionality. Your Skokie dentistry, Dr. Brent A. Engelberg, will talk more about two of the most common dental crown materials, though his practice preferences include lithium disilicate (e.max) and zirconia (lava) crown materials.
Gold Dental Crowns
Gold crowns have a long history and many advantages that still make them one of the most popular materials in dental restorations. With gold, there is no danger of chipping which can sometimes be seen with porcelain. Gold is extremely hard, but also forgiving when it comes to the wear of opposing teeth during chewing. However, they are not a good choice in cosmetic terms, and certainly would not be the top choice for your more visible teeth. However, Dr. Engelberg replaces many full porcelain crowns to gold because of dark lines at the gumline that can sometimes develop and become a concerning side effect to patients.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Gold Dental Crowns
To make gold crowns cosmetically pleasing, but still keep optimum function, there are crowns made of porcelain materials that are fused to gold. These porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns blend the best of both worlds with the two materials – gold’s strength with the tooth-like look of porcelain. However, it is important for patients to partner with their dentist to insure that the metal used in their dental crown material is quality. Rising costs in gold have led to many laboratories cutting costs by using inferior metals.
Dental Crowns in Skokie
If you are in need of a dental crown, Dr. Engelberg will make sure that your restoration is functional, and of the highest quality. To schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Engelberg, call our 60061 dentist office at 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
