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Need A Dental Crown On A Rear Molar? Know Your Options

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If you have a rear molar in your mouth that needs a dental crown, know that you actually have some options when it comes to the kind of crown you get. Here is what you need to know about some popular options.

Full Contour Zirconia Crowns

A common type of crown that is used is a full-contour zirconia crown. It's made completely out of porcelain and is incredibly strong, which is why many people select it for their dental crown. This crown is not going to completely blend in with the surrounding teeth, but chances are that nobody will really see it anyway. 

The crown can be made with normal zirconia or translucent zirconia, which is a more opaque version of the material that will blend in a bit better. Just keep in mind that translucent zirconia is not as strong as normal zirconia, but your dentist may decide to use translucent zirconia if the tooth is close to the front of your mouth and noticeable. 

Lithium Disilicate Crown

You'll find that a lithium disilicate crown has a much more natural look to it, which is why the material is often used for front-facing teeth. However, this material is not as strong as zirconia in normal situations. It requires the crown to be bonded to your teeth, rather than simply using dental cement, which gives it the necessary strength the material needs to hold up over time.

Full Gold Crown

Full gold crown uses actual gold alloy, and it is one of the strongest crowns that you can have placed in your mouth. The crown is made by taking a mold of your tooth and creating a cast, and the metal material is not going to crack. Of course, the gold color does stand out much more in your mouth, which is why many patients do not want it for front teeth and only use it for rear molars. 

Porcelain Fused To A Metal Crown

If you want the strength of metal and the look of porcelain, porcelain fused to a metal crown can be the best option. While it still has a strong metal base, it has a porcelain-covered surface that looks natural. One problem with this type of crown is that the porcelain can chip off over time, which will expose the metal backing underneath the crown. 

Reach out to a dentist for more information about dental crowns.


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