Should I have an all ceramic crown or a porcelain on metal crown for my front tooth?

[Kate T]

Hi

I am looking to replace an old crown on my front tooth that has been there for nearly ten years. The crown now looks much darker than my other teeth after I bleached my other teeth last month.

I have seen my dentist and he has given me the option of having an all ceramic crown or a porcelain on metal crown option. According to him, my old crown was a porcelain on metal crown.

I would like to know if I should have an all ceramic crown or a porcelain on metal crown for my front tooth? Which type of crown will look more natural?

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post.

All ceramic crowns generally look better than metal ceramic crowns but some skilled lab technicians can make some very aesthetic looking metal ceramic crowns too.

From a strength point of view, the metal ceramic crowns are generally stronger than porcelain crowns. Its difficult to say overall which type of crown is better, I generally do metal free crowns on front teeth.