Crowns

Crowns are made from a variety of materials that strengthen and protect the tooth structure. There are three types of crowns: a full-porcelain crown (Empress), a porcelain fused-to-metal crown (PFM) and the all-metal crown.

Typically porcelain crowns are made by bonding the porcelain to a metal support in a process called Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM). The drawback is that unlike a natural tooth that allows light to pass through it, the metal support underneath blocks out the light. The Empress system, unlike its predecessors, has developed a method of making a porcelain crown without metal that is both durable and strong. Since the crown is made entirely out of porcelain, light is able to pass through just like a real tooth giving a more natural look. However, the Empress crown is still not as strong as a PFM crown.

Therefore, we use PFM crowns on back teeth and for bridgework for the added strength the metal support lends, and we use the PFM and Empress crowns on anterior teeth.

If a crown (Empress or PFM ) is made for a cosmetic reason, THAT WILL NOT BE COVERED BY ANY INSURANCE COMPANY.

If a crown (Empress or PFM ) is made for any of the following reasons, (this will be covered by your insurance):

- Severe damage from decay
- A filled tooth can no longer support the filling
- Root Canal
- After a root canal, the tooth becomes brittle and requires the protection of a crown
- Bridges: when teeth are replaced by a bridge, the adjacent teeth need crowns in order to support the bridge.

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