Porcelain vs. Gold Dental Crowns: Making the Right Choice

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that your dentist fits over a badly damaged or diseased tooth. Crowns protect teeth after a root canal procedure, for example, and hold teeth together when a cavity is so large that there isn’t enough enamel left to maintain the tooth.  

There are some special considerations when placing either a porcelain or gold crown. To place the crown, for example, a dentist must remove some tooth enamel to create enough room for the crown. The dentist must also take certain habits into consideration: a patient may also clench or grind their teeth in a condition known as bruxism, and the pressures of bruxism can crack or even break the crown.  
Appearance and function are also important. Most patients prefer to have tooth-colored crowns in the front of their mouth, but are glad to have a stronger material to protect their back teeth.  

Porcelain Vs. Gold

Porcelain crowns

Porcelain crowns have a natural luster that makes them look like real teeth. Porcelain does not conduct cold or heat very well, which means you are less likely to experience tooth sensitivity after placement of the crown.  

Porcelain is strong in some ways, but weak in others. For example, porcelain is stronger than tooth enamel, so a porcelain crown can potentially damage the opposing teeth when you bite down or clench your teeth. On the other hand, porcelain does risk becoming brittle and fracturing over time, especially in spots where the crown is thin or when subjected to the forces of chewing and grinding.  

Benefits of porcelain crowns:

• Produces an aesthetically pleasing and lifelike result

• Does not conduct heat or cold quickly, thereby reducing the risk of temperature sensitivity after placement

• Non-reactive in patients who experience metal sensitivities

Potential disadvantages of porcelain crowns:

• Fractures more easily than gold crowns

• More enamel must be removed to fit a porcelain crown

• Can damage opposing teeth

Gold crowns

The gold used in dental crowns is an alloy, which means it contains other metals that give it added strength. Gold crowns are best for back teeth, especially for those with habitual clenching and grinding habits or who do not care for the appearance of gold crowns at the front of their mouth.

Gold can conduct heat and cold more efficiently than porcelain, so gold crowns may cause more sensitivity in the first few weeks after placement than porcelain.

Dentists mix the gold with other metals when making dental crowns; these metals give the gold crowns added strength. While gold is durable, it is gentler on the opposing teeth, which makes it ideal for replacing back teeth.  

The benefits of gold crowns:

• Long-lasting and durable

• Gentle on opposing teeth

• Strong even in thin spots, which allows dentists to preserve more tooth structure during placement of the crown

• Less sensitivity for some patients during cementation, compared with porcelain

Potential disadvantages of gold crowns:

• Gold conducts heat and cold quickly, potentially causing some sensitivity in the weeks following placement

• Some patients may experience symptoms of metal sensitivities – testing is available

• Visibly different from other teeth

• Can wear away over the years, especially in patients with severe bruxism or when placed opposite a full porcelain crown

For more information about porcelain and gold crowns, connect with Sarko Dental Associates. We offer a wide variety of cosmetic services, including porcelain and gold crowns. We make dental crowns Scottsdale residents can smile about!

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