Dental Crown Comparison: A Head-to-Head Breakdown

You have a lot of considerations when it comes to choosing a dental crown. After all, your restoration will be protecting your tooth for the next decade (we hope!). While you want something strong, you also want something beautiful, comfortable, and affordable. With so many options, it may feel overwhelming to try and tell the difference between them.

 

At Green Meadow Dental, we want to help you find Newington, CT dental crowns that fit every criterion on your must-have list. Our expert general dentist can use your oral health, budget, and preferences to come to the best decision for your long-term comfort and satisfaction. To get the conversation started, we’ve collected some of the essential features of each kind of dental crown.

Cost Comparison of Dental Crown Materials

Unfortunately, the nature of dentistry is that it’s often reactive. You have a sudden root canal, and now you’re picking from a dozen dental crown choices. Because of the time crunch, one of your primary considerations is going to be cost. Luckily, dental insurance should do most of the work in paying for your dental crown; however, if you don’t have insurance, or if you have flaky coverage, you may be paying out-of-pocket for treatment.

 

Here are some general estimates of what each crown material might cost:

Metal (nickel, chromium, palladium, silver, or an alloy)	Gold	Zirconium dioxide (hardened ceramic)	Composite (acrylic resin)	Porcelain	Ceramic (CEREC)	Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
$500-1,000	$600-2,500	$1,000-2,500	$300-500	$800-3,000	$1,000-1,500	$1,000-1,800

 

Obviously, there are a lot of different factors that can affect price, including:

• The size of the crown
• Its location
• The combination of materials
• Your region

Strength Comparison

Strength comes down to a lot of different factors. How well does it stand up to wear? How much pressure can it withstand? How long will it last before it needs to be replaced? Questions of this kind of specificity are best answered by your dentist, but here are a few data points to consider:

	Metal (nickel, chromium, palladium, silver, or an alloy)	Gold alloy (gold and copper)	Zirconium dioxide (hardened ceramic)	Composite (acrylic resin)	Porcelain	Ceramic (CEREC)	Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
Impact Strength	Very strong	Very strong	Very strong	Adequate	Too weak for molars	Strong	Very strong
Durability	10-20+ years	20-40 years	15-20 years	5-10 years	5-10 years	5-10 years	5-15 years

 

The durability of your crown will also depend on how well you take care of your teeth. Brushing, flossing, and avoiding risky foods can help your restoration to outlast even these estimates!

Aesthetics Comparison

How you feel about your dental crown will largely depend on personal preference. If you like the way gold crowns look, then you have that option! Many people prefer restorations to look natural, in which case porcelain, ceramic, zirconia, and PFM crowns may be preferable. As these kinds of these aren’t easy to measure, here are some things that can be compared:

	Metal (nickel, chromium, palladium, silver, or an alloy)	Gold alloy (gold and copper)	Zirconium dioxide (hardened ceramic)	Composite (acrylic resin)	Porcelain	Ceramic (CEREC)	Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
Stain resistance	High	High	High	Moderate	High	High	High
Scratch resistance	High	Moderate	High	Adequate	High	High	High
Closeness to natural tooth color	Far	Far	Exact	Exact	Exact	Exact	Exact

Get Newington, CT Dental Crowns at Green Meadow Dental

You have a lot to consider, and sometimes looking at tables doesn’t quite give you what you need to make a decision. We get it, not everyone’s a “table” person. Thankfully, the experts on dental crowns can give you all the information you need to make the best choice for you. At Green Meadow Dental, we use our experience, skills, and knowledge to craft treatment plans that put your needs and health first. Schedule your appointment today by calling 860-891-6867.