Types of Dental Crowns Materials

Gold Crowns
Comparison
- Made from gold or partial gold alloys
- Used for crown and bridges
- Very strong and durable
- Requires moderate tooth preparation
- Not prone to fracture under tension and impact as it is made of gold
- High biocompatibility
- Low thermal conductivity as gold is an inert metal
- Does not mimic natural teeth
Gold Ranges
- PFM semi-precious crown (> 50% gold)
- PFM high-precious crown (>80% gold)
- Full gold crown

PFM Crowns
Comparison
- Made from porcelain with metal structure underlying the crown
- Used for crown and bridges
- Very strong and durable
- Requires moderate to aggressive tooth preparation
- Porcelain prone to fracture under tension and impact; but its metal base has high strength
- Good biocompatibility but some patients may have allergenic sensitivity to base metals
- High thermal conductivity that may lead to discomfort from hot and cold during early placement of crown
- Mimics natural teeth, if high gold content is used the better the aesthetics and adaptability
PFM Ranges
- PFM standard alloy
- PFM palladium crown
- PFM semi-precious crown
- PFM high-precious crown

All Ceramic Crowns
Comparisons
- Made from porcelain or ceramics
- Used for crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays
- Strong and durable
- Requires moderate tooth preparation
- Prone to fracture under tension and impact
- High biocompatibility
- Low thermal conductivity there reduces discomfort from hot and cold
- Mimics natural teeth, aesthetic varies with porcelain material
Ceramic Ranges
Gold, PFM vs All Ceramic Crowns
Gold dental crowns are the most durable and offer the most precise fit. Gold dental crowns does not chip.
PFM crowns are conventional dental crowns that enables durability because there is an alloy sub-structure under its porcelain surface. These crowns are therefore able to withstand chewing and grinding forces. They are commonly used for posterior crown restorations where the biting load is the strongest. The percentage of gold used within the crown metal alloy can be specified. In general, the higher the percentage of gold alloy, the more adaptable and inert the crown. Higher gold content will however mean a higher cost for the PFM crown.
All ceramic crowns and porcelain fused to metal (PFM) tooth crowns are tooth-colored and look just like your natural teeth. There are various all ceramics brands in Thailand offered at BIDC.
- IPS Empress from Ivoclar Vivadent
- Zirconia Crowns from Amanngirrbach
- Lava Crowns from 3M ESPE
- Cercon from Dentsply Sirona
- Procera from Nobel Biocare
Full porcelain crowns are increasingly popular and the norm used today. Zirconia crowns now provides good strength and there are no metal components in them. This avoids the issues of black margin gum staining from PFM standard metal alloys as the metal oxidizes over time. All ceramic crowns are also not as costly as all gold crowns. The most commonly used ceramic crowns at BIDC is the zirconia system and 3M Lava crown that are preferred choices due to good strength and natural-look.