If you need a dental crown, then you may think that you have to choose between a crown that looks nice or one that is sturdy. The truth is that there are many dental crown options today that look great and hold up well, even when subjected to the extreme forces of biting and chewing. If you want a crown that gives you the best of both worlds, then read on for your options. 

1. Porcelain Fused To Metal

If you want a crown that looks nice, then there is no question that you want the surface to be porcelain. However, full porcelain crowns have some drawbacks, and one disadvantage is that they are not quite as durable as their metal counterparts when used on molars. Molars must withstand a lot of force when chewing. 

Porcelain fused to metal crowns give you the natural-looking tooth you want while providing the sturdiness that only metal alloys can offer. 

2. Full Porcelain

After learning about the benefits of porcelain fused to metal crowns, you may wonder why full porcelain crowns would be the best combination of sturdiness and attractiveness in some situations. The truth is that while not as strong as porcelain fused to metal crowns, full-porcelain crowns can be sturdy enough to be used on front incisors that aren't subjected to quite as much force when biting as molars are. 

If you have a full porcelain crown placed on a front tooth, you do want to be careful afterwards to not use your teeth as tools (which you should never to anyway!). However, when subjected to typical biting forces when eating typical foods, they usually hold up well. 

3. Full Metal

While porcelain fused to metal is a good option for front molars and incisors that need sturdy crowns that also look great, full metal crowns can be aesthetically appealing and strong when used on back molars. Why? No one is going to see your back molars unless you show them. 

Metal crown options include gold, noble alloys (these crowns include precious metals), and non-noble metal alloys. A specific type of noble alloy, called high-noble alloy, contains a high percentage of precious metals, and this material is a little pricier, but it can give you a better final result. Why? This material is easy for your dentist to work with, making the final result more likely to be exactly what your dentist is seeking. 

As you can see, the best choice for a tooth crown can vary depending on the specific tooth the crown is going on. It is important to work with your dentist and trust his or her advice when it comes to which crown is best for your tooth.