3 Things To Know About Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal Dental Crowns
When one of your teeth is covered in decay, your dentist may not be able to fill the cavities with a filling. In this situation, your dentist will probably recommend putting a dental crown on the tooth. This will save the tooth and solve the problems with decay, but it will probably require two visits to your dentist. Your dentist may also ask you if you prefer a ceramic crown or a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown. Porcelain crowns are becoming more popular today, but PFM crowns may actually be a better option. Here are several things you should know about PFM crowns that may help you make this decision.
What Is A PFM Crown?
A PFM crown is a dental product that is made with two different materials, which are porcelain and some type of metal alloy. The metal alloy is placed on the inside of the crown, while the porcelain is placed on the outside. A dental crown is made to fit over an existing tooth, and a PFM crown will blend in perfectly.
A porcelain crown is only made of porcelain and nothing else, and it is also made to fit perfectly over a tooth and blend in.
The metal used for a PFM crown is often made up of a variety of gold, silver, copper, platinum, and other metals. A pure metal is never used for crowns, simply because mixing several metals together produces a stronger and better material to use for dental crowns.
What Are The Benefits Of PFM Crowns?
If you have to choose between a PFM crown and a ceramic crown, you will want to choose a PFM crown if you are looking for the most durable option. Because this type of crown contains metal, it is considered to be much stronger than a solid porcelain crown. A PFM crown should last longer than other options.
You should also know that making PFM crowns to fit perfectly on teeth is easier to do than making porcelain crowns. This means that a PFM crown is likely to be more comfortable, and you may have fewer problems with it compared to a porcelain crown.
Another option your dentist may suggest is a solid metal crown. While this type of crown is extremely durable, most people do not prefer getting this type simply because of the color. A solid metal crown will typically be gold or silver in color, and this will stand out in your mouth. With a PFM crown and with ceramic crowns, the color of the crown is custom selected to match the other teeth in your mouth. No one will ever be able to see that the tooth has a crown on it, because the crown will blend right in.
What Are The Cost Differences?
The third thing you may be wondering is what the cost differences are for all of these options. The cost of your crown will be based on the size of the crown, the tooth it is for, and the material used to make the crowns. Generally, porcelain crowns are the most expensive type you can get, and they cost around $1,430 on average. A crown made of solid metal will cost around $1,353 on average.
The cheapest option you can choose is a PFM crown. This type will cost around $1,093 on average, yet it will most likely last just as long as a solid metal crown.
If you are not sure which option you should choose, you should talk to your dentist. Your dentist can give you more information about each of your options, and this should help you make the right decision.