Gold Crowns Don't Deserve Their Negative Reputation

Gold crowns are popular accessories among pirates and rap singers, but can the average person pull off this edgy look without appearing tacky? While getting a gold tooth in the middle of your smile may not be an option, the material is excellent when used on molars or any other teeth that are hidden from view during a smile. They are long lasting, not very abrasive, and don't require as much tooth preparation as porcelain counterparts, but due to an unfair stigma they have lost favor in the public eye.

The first thing to understand about gold crowns is that they are commonly used for back molars rather than visible front teeth. Dentists are sensitive to the fact that most people don't want a bright metal tooth detracting from their pearly whites, and would not make even make the suggestion. The molars, however, are not visible except when the mouth is opened extremely wide. At this angle, any dental devices such as fillings that are not blended in with the natural tooth would be visible. For some even this would be excessive, but a little bit of gold has some great advantages over porcelain and other materials.

Another important fact is that it isn't a completely gold tooth. Up to 40% of the device will be made from gold, while the remaining portion is a mixture of metals, which can include a variety of materials from copper to platinum. This makes gold a very durable and ideal material for caps. It lasts much longer than porcelain, which can exhibit signs of wear in as few as five years. Gold caps have been known to last decades without any significant damage to the remaining or surrounding enamel of other teeth.

Preserving healthy tooth structure and enamel should be a dentist's top priority when treating a patient. Unfortunately, the demand for porcelain crowns over gold forces them to remove more enamel from the tooth in order to get the desired results. While aesthetically pleasing, it can cause more damage later on. The porcelain also must be extended down towards the gum line, which can cause irritation of the sensitive tissue there. Gold overlays or inlays can be used much more modestly, filling in spaces only where required. This helps prevent damage to otherwise healthy teeth.

Patients are also not aware that porcelain is actually very abrasive towards enamel. It may look smooth and polished, but over time it is slowly eroding any touching teeth. After a few years of this trauma, once healthy teeth may now need crowns or restoration. This can start a vicious cycle and before you know it nearly every tooth must be capped. Porcelain can also shrink, meaning it will need replacement and will lose effectiveness. This is not a problem with gold.

Since gold crowns will fluctuate in price with the stock market, right now is an expensive time to choose this material. However, while it may cost a few hundred dollars more per tooth, over the long run you are likely to save money because they will not need to be replaced every few years.