Hello Dr. Hall
I’m having a crown put on one of my rear molars. The dentist says it’s not possible to use porcelain due to the size. Something about how there is not enough space. So they’ve given me the option of metal or gold. Is this possible? I read that metal takes more space than porcelain. I don’t want metal, if at all possible.
Thank you,
– Rose from California
Rose,
When porcelain is used in a crown, it does have to be thicker than metal. And in some situations, on second molars, there is very little space to work with. I can understand why your dentist would want to use a metal crown if space is limited in your mouth.
There are various options for a metal crown. Gold is the most common metal because it is corrosion-resistant, and can be cast to a fine finish line so that it fits better than any other type of crown. If you have to have a metal crown, I would highly recommend gold. It might cost more, but you will get many more years of service out of your typical gold crown than any other metal.
– Dr. Hall
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.