Which Type Of Dental Crown Is Right for You?

Dr Dustin Lee explains what dental crowns are and when they are needed to protect damaged or heavily worn teeth. He compares common crown materials, including ceramic options and traditional choices, and outlines the clinic’s digital workflow that allows crowns to be designed and fitted on the same day.

About The Video

In this video, Dr Dustin introduces dental crowns as protective “jackets” that restore and strengthen teeth that are badly broken down. He explains common reasons a crown may be recommended, such as a broken tooth, a large cavity, or severe wear that leaves a tooth weak.

He then walks through different crown material options. These include metal-free ceramic crowns such as zirconia and lithium disilicate, as well as more traditional options like porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and gold crowns. He highlights how material choice depends on factors such as strength needs, appearance, and bite forces.

Finally, he describes the clinic’s digital crown process, including intraoral scanning and an in-house lab workflow that can produce and fit a crown within a single day.

Crowns are used when a tooth has lost too much structure to be reliably restored with a standard filling. Dr Dustin describes crowns as protective covers that reinforce teeth after fractures, large cavities, or long-term wear. He explains that patients can choose from several crown materials, each with different strengths and trade-offs.

Zirconia is described as highly fracture-resistant and useful for people who grind their teeth. Lithium disilicate is noted for being more lifelike in appearance and bondable, which can also reduce the amount of tooth reduction required, though it may not be suitable in very high-wear situations. Traditional options discussed include porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns for durability and fit, and gold crowns for fit and being kinder to opposing teeth, though appearance and cost are limitations. The video ends by outlining a same-day digital workflow using scanning and an in-house lab.