Traditionally, the strongest dental crowns and bridges were made with a metal base. A layer of porcelain was baked over them to help the restorations blend in with the rest of the teeth. While this kind of metal-based dentistry is still around, it has a couple of issues.
First, porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations are no longer the standard of aesthetic dentistry. The porcelain isn’t enough to make metal-based crowns look natural. The metal core creates a dark line at the gums and, combined with an opaque porcelain coating, makes the teeth look chalky and fake.
Modern dental technology allows a dentist like Dr. Marion to create natural-looking metal-free restorations that reflect the same color and translucency as real teeth.
The second problem with outdated porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns is that they can cause trouble for those with metal allergies or sensitivities. Here, too, newer techniques in metal-free dentistry mean that you can still get beautiful and strong dental restorations even if you want to avoid having metal in your mouth.
A Metal-Free Dentist in Duluth
Dr. Marion works exclusively with metal-free restorative materials. He restores teeth with metal-free full ceramic crowns and bridges.
Dr. Marion uses a specific material called zirconia to design his crowns and bridges. This material is called “ceramic steel” for good reason; it’s incredibly strong with a high tensile strength despite not containing metal. Zirconia bonds directly to teeth and doesn’t require a metal base for strength. Although zirconia contains ceramic, it’s far from brittle and will hold up even against the forces of a teeth-grinding habit.
Zirconia crowns also look incredibly life-like since there’s no metal base inside that needs to be covered up. Zirconia comes in a translucent formula that can be stained to build realistic depth and translucency to mimic a natural tooth.
If he’s restoring a front tooth, Dr. Marion prefers to use e.max crowns. These are made from pressed ceramic and are covered with porcelain veneers on the front. These restorations can create the most detailed and realistic finish for those front teeth that show when you smile.
The Benefits of Going Metal-Free
Here are just some of the benefits of visiting a metal-free dentist:
- Strong, durable, and biocompatible restorations that help keep your whole mouth healthy
- Beautiful results that look like real teeth; no one will ever have to know how much dental work you’ve had done
- Freedom from the worry about exposure to some of the metals traditionally used in dental restorations (such as nickel, cobalt, and chromium).
To learn more about the metal-free dentistry techniques Dr. Marion has mastered or book a consultation, call our office or request an appointment.
