A gold tooth may have sounded cool years ago, but now you can’t stop thinking about how obvious it is. Is your metal crown the only thing people notice when they see you smile? Does it look tacky? What kind of first impression does it make? As it turns out, not everything that glitters is gold – and sometimes even gold isn’t worth the glitz!
Fortunately, there’s a much more subtle alternative that comes with many benefits. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of going metal-free.
What is a “Metal-Free” Restoration Made Of?
These days, metal-free restorations like dental crowns can be made from a variety of tooth-colored materials. Emax and porcelain are two popular options, though zirconia is an excellent choice as well. Whichever one you decide to go with, your dentist will make sure it’s artfully customized to meet your aesthetic preferences.
A Seamless Smile
For many patients, their “aesthetic preference” is simply to have a smile that looks natural all the way around. Indeed, that’s the main advantage of a metal-free crown. Part of the customization process involves selecting the color of your crown, and to create a perfectly seamless look, your dentist can color-match the shade to your healthy pearly whites. Basically, a crown made from Emax, porcelain, or zirconia will look much more like a real tooth than any metal crown!
Happier Teeth
When you bite down on something metallic, like, say, a penny or a nickel, what happens? It hurts your teeth, right? As you can probably imagine, chewing on most metals will wear down your enamel. This includes your gold or silver crown.
The metal-free version, however, is much closer to the durability of tooth enamel, and won’t cause nearly as much damage.
Better Insulation
If you’ve had a hard time enjoying hot or cold foods lately, you’re not crazy. Metal is highly conductive, meaning it transfers heat and cold quickly and easily. That’s why it hurts to touch a frozen pole or a blazing playground slide. In the case of your smile, your metal crown is quickly transferring those sensations to your tender tooth, causing dental sensitivity.
Tooth-colored crown materials aren’t as conductive as metal. After your replacement, your pearly white will be much better protected!
Conclusion
There are many good reasons to switch from a metal crown to an Emax, porcelain, or zirconia one. If you’d like to know more about your options, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for their recommendation. They’d be happy to give you the details!
About the Practice
Dr. Mu Salayta and Dr. Schuyler Pracht are highly experienced dentists who want to help their patients feel comfortable with their smile. Both Dr. Salayta and Dr. Pracht have advanced training with various dental restorations, so if you’re preoccupied or uncomfortable with your metal crown, don’t hesitate to call them and ask about going metal-free! To contact their office, call 918-299-2298.