PFM Versus All-Porcelain Crowns

Serving Dallas, Texas and the surrounding areas

Originally, porcelain used for crowns had to have a metal foundation in order to be strong enough to hold up well. However, with advanced bonding technology, dental crowns can be made out of pure porcelain. All-porcelain crowns can be used on individual teeth, as part of a bridge, or in the restoration of a dental implant.

For the patient, this means you can have beautiful crowns on your front teeth that look totally natural - exactly like real teeth. Nothing works like porcelain for mimicking the appearance of natural teeth. With the trained and artistic eye of Dr. Mary Swift, she can match your existing teeth in color, shape, and character, including the vitality, gloss, and translucency of natural teeth.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns Versus All-porcelain crowns

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are strong enough to hold up on molar teeth. All-porcelain crowns aren't quite as strong, but are plenty strong enough to hold up on front teeth.
• All-porcelain crowns require advanced bonding technology that many dentists aren't familiar with. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can be cemented with basic techniques that are taught in dental schools.
• Like natural enamel, All-porcelain crowns are translucent. When porcelain is baked onto metal, it requires an opaque layer to hide the metal that detracts from the natural beauty.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns invariably develop a black line at the gum line. Dentists will try to hide this line under the gum, but they're not always successful. Some PFM crowns have a line of porcelain added near the projected gum line which can make the line a little less noticeable, but it will still be there. More importantly, as your gums recede over time the line will eventually show up. All-porcelain crowns have a seamless bonded margin that is invisible, so there is no black line.
• Beautiful, artistically crafted all-porcelain crowns from a trained cosmetic dentist like Dr. Mary Swift will probably cost more than ordinary porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns from a general dentist. But if your appearance is important to you, the extra investment is well worth it!

During your initial consultation, Dr. Mary Swift will discuss the goals you want to achieve with your teeth and what results you can expect by having a beautiful all-porcelain crown placed. During your appointment, your tooth will be shaped for perfect placement of the final porcelain crown. Dr. Mary Swift will take a digital CAD-CAM impression of your tooth, and choose a perfect shade to match your teeth. The impression, color and shape specifications are sent to a master ceramist at our dental lab for custom manufacture. In the meantime, Dr. Mary Swift will place a temporary crown for you to use until your final appointment. Once the porcelain crown is back from the lab, you will visit us again for the permanent placement.

Find out how crown and bridge work from Dallas Laser Dentistry can give you the smile you've always wanted. Call or email Dallas Laser Dentistry today for your personalized cosmetic dentistry consultation.