Are gold crowns obsolete?
There are many great tooth colored crowns that are so estheic that even a dentist won't know it is not a natural tooth at first glance. That being said, why would anyone ever choose gold? Well, in an area such as your lower posteriors it is possible for some people that it doesn't show when you smile or laugh. In other words, if it can't be seen, maybe one should consider the other qualities we look for in an ideal crown:
1. Longevity- Gold is the only type of crown that NEVER breaks. They have been shown to sometimes last a lifetime.
2. Feel-Gold feels most like your opposing natural tooth structure.
3. Drilling necessary- There is less drilling needed for a gold crown preparation than all the porcelain crowns available. Sometimes when a lot of tooth structure has already been lost due to decay or fracture
conserving tooth structure increases the long term prognosis for your tooth!
At Dr. Bacon's Flagstaff dental office we make alot of porcelain crowns. It's nice to know your options and Dr. Bacon will help you decide which is right for you(if you need a crown).
