“What are the material options for a dental crown?”

When choosing a dental crown for a back molar, the key factors to consider are durability, aesthetics, and biocompatibility. Here’s a breakdown of the main crown materials and how they stack up:


1. Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)
Durability: Strong due to the metal substructure; good for molars.
Aesthetics: Better than full metal but less natural-looking than all-ceramic or zirconia.
Cons: May show a dark line at the gum over time; porcelain can chip.
Good for: People wanting a balance between strength and appearance, but not top-tier in either.

2. Full Metal (Gold or Base Metal Alloys)
Durability: Excellent—can withstand chewing forces very well.
Aesthetics: Poor (very visible), but often fine for teeth far back in the mouth.
Biocompatibility: Gold is gentle on opposing teeth and has a long history of safe use.
Best for: Longevity and function on back molars where appearance isn’t a concern.

3. All-Zirconia
Durability: Extremely strong and fracture-resistant—ideal for molars.
Aesthetics: Opaque; not as lifelike as porcelain but generally acceptable for back teeth.
Biocompatibility: Excellent—suitable for those with metal allergies or sensitivities.
Best overall choice for a back molar when you want both strength and acceptable appearance.

4. E.max (Lithium Disilicate Ceramic)
Durability: Strong, but less than zirconia—better suited for front or premolar teeth.
Aesthetics: Excellent—very natural-looking.
Cons: More prone to fracture under heavy bite force, especially in molars.
Best for: Highly visible teeth with less bite pressure—not usually recommended for back molars.

Best Recommendation for a Back Molar:
Monolithic zirconia crowns are typically the top choice:
Strong, long-lasting
Less risk of chipping compared to layered porcelain
Decent appearance for a non-visible tooth
If you’re focused purely on strength and durability and don’t mind the look, full metal (like gold) is the most durable option.

Hi there! There are several factors I would consider when deciding what material would be best for a molar crown. Both zirconia and porcelain can be very esthetic, but they have different requirements for tooth preparation. I'm my opinion, porcelain can be very durable and is often more natural looking than zirconia. However, if there is limited space and durability is a concern, I would choose zirconia. I often do not choose metal crowns due to the cosmetic nature of them - metal will stand out amongst the other teeth. And very few of my patients are ok with metal crowns these days. Metal would become a consideration if I have a patient with a history of failing porcelain/zirconia crowns due to fractures from chewing forces, or if the crown needs to support something like a partial denture. I hope that helps! Dr. Blankenship Kari Blankenship DDS Dental Renaissance 3325 Premier Drive Plano, TX 75023 (972) 423-0880 www.planodentist.com

Hello we offer the following material's Zirconia, Porcelain fused to metal, Full metal and gold. For aesthetics Zirconia is the strongest and most aesthetic since it has no dark metals. For longest lasting nothing is better then gold but most people don't like it because it is not aesthetic.

For a dental crown, options include:

1. **Porcelain**: Great aesthetics but less durable, ideal for front teeth.
2. **Zirconia**: Strong, durable, and aesthetic, great for back molars.
3. **Metal Alloys (e.g., gold)**: Extremely durable but less aesthetic, good for back molars.

For back molars, **zirconia** or **PFM** are ideal, with **gold** being an option for maximum durability.

Get a zirconia crown. I use Bruxzir brand crowns.