Porcelain Fused To Metal Crown

This type of restoration has been the most commonly done crown in dentistry for 35 years. Tooth colored porcelain is baked on top of a high precious metal (primarily gold) substructure for the ultimate in strength. Although the all porcelain crown is very strong, there are many circumstances when a porcelain fused to gold crown is a better choice. The porcelain fused to metal crown is often used when destructive night grinding is a problem or when long span bridges are needed. The longevity and esthetics of these restorations can vary significantly depending on the quality level of the dentist and laboratory technician team that makes it. Absolutely fabulous esthetic results can be achieved with porcelain fused to metal crowns if your dentist works with a true ceramic artist.

Non-precious vs. high noble gold, crown quality levels discussed

Depending on what market niche your dentist operates in determines what your porcelain on metal  restoration will look like. The average American dentist will contract with a laboratory to construct a crown for about $155. This cost is usually hidden and rolled into the fee for service that the dentist charges the patient. An average crown will have medium quality porcelain baked over a base metal (non-precious alloy) . It will approximate the shape and coloration of a natural tooth. The metal will be exposed at the margin or edge. For $60 more, the dentist could request a porcelain margin so if or when the gum receeds around the crown, a black line of metal will not appear. Because all the lab costs are rolled into the price of the service, patients are rarely informed of what their dentist is prescribing for them. An inexpensive dental office might pay as little as $35 for a laboratory to make your crown. At this level of quality, the metal will be cheaper and the porcelain will be more opaque. Cheaper metal does not cast well and will not fit as intimately and has less biocompatibility. Dr. Fondriest uses gold (high-noble alloy) under the porcelain of his restorations. High carat gold's warm color is easier to mask with the porcelain and less tooth reduction is required to make it attractive. Gold will cast better producing a much better marginal fit and it is far more biocompatible. High quality laboratories charge the dentist over $500 per crown but if the your particular case has complexity or many teeth are being done at the same time the laboratory costs to the dentist can rise to $1000 for each crown. At this level of quality, porcelain fused to gold crowns can mimic nature's beauty.