Choosing between zirconia vs porcelain vs metal crowns comes down to three questions: how much force the tooth takes, how much it shows when you smile, and how much natural tooth can be saved. Each material wins on one of those and gives a little on another. Below we compare the four materials dentists use most often, with a side-by-side table and the situations where each one tends to make sense.
A very tough white ceramic. Solid (monolithic) zirconia is milled from one block and resists chipping and cracking well, which is why it is popular for molars. It can look quite natural, though it tends to be a little more opaque than glass ceramics. Some zirconia crowns get a thin layer of porcelain on the front for extra lifelike color, which looks lovely but brings back a small risk of chipping in that layer.
A glass ceramic that lets light pass through it much like enamel does, so it blends in beautifully next to natural front teeth. It is bonded to the tooth, which adds strength to the whole unit. It is strong enough for most front teeth and premolars and some molars, but on the back teeth of a heavy grinder, zirconia or gold is usually the safer pick.
A metal shell underneath with porcelain baked over it. It has been used for decades and works well, especially for bridges. The tradeoffs: it needs extra room for both layers, the porcelain can chip off the metal, and if the gum recedes, a dark metal edge can show at the gumline. Many older crowns you see in people's mouths are this type.
Gold mixed with other metals for strength. It rarely breaks, it is gentle on the opposing teeth, and it can be made very thin, so less of your tooth has to be shaved down. The obvious downside is the color, so it is usually reserved for back molars that do not show. The metal content also makes its cost move with metal prices.
This is a general guide. Your bite, the space available and the color of the tooth underneath can change the answer.
| Zirconia | Lithium disilicate ceramic | Porcelain fused to metal | Gold alloy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Very high | High | High core, porcelain layer can chip | Very high |
| Natural look | Good; slightly more opaque | Excellent; translucent like enamel | Good at first; grey edge can appear | Metal color |
| Tooth removed | Moderate | Moderate | More, to fit metal plus porcelain | Least |
| Often suits | Molars, grinders, bridges | Front teeth, premolars | Bridges, matching older work | Back molars that don't show |
| Kind to opposing teeth | Yes, when well polished | Yes | Porcelain can wear opposing teeth if rough | Yes |
| Metal-free | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Notice that no column wins every row. That is why a good crown recommendation is specific to a tooth, not a brand of material the office happens to prefer.
Here is how the choice often plays out in real situations:
If grinding is part of your story, protecting the new crown matters as much as choosing it. Our page on custom night guards explains how they are made.
Every crown needs room, so the tooth is shaped down to make space for the material. The thinner a material can safely be, the more natural tooth you keep. That matters because healthy tooth structure cannot grow back, and the more that is removed, the closer the work gets to the nerve.
Porcelain fused to metal typically needs the most room, because two layers have to fit. Gold alloy needs the least. Zirconia and lithium disilicate sit in between, and the exact amount depends on the tooth and how much strength that spot requires. When a tooth only has damage on part of its surface, a partial crown (onlay) may save even more tooth, which is worth asking about.
If you are weighing a crown against a veneer for a front tooth, our veneers vs crowns post covers that choice.
A few useful questions for any dentist recommending a crown:
Dr. Rana chooses the material tooth by tooth and works with our in-house lab, so shade and shape can be adjusted with you in the chair rather than by mail. Our dental crowns page walks through each visit. Cost depends mostly on the material, whether a buildup or root canal is needed first, and the lab work, and your exact price is confirmed in writing before treatment. Many plans treat crowns as a major service, subject to deductibles, waiting periods and annual maximums, and some pay only the amount for a less expensive material on back teeth. We check your benefits for you. For any balance, there are 0% financing options on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
It depends on the tooth. Zirconia is stronger and usually preferred for molars and people who grind, while glass ceramics such as lithium disilicate tend to look more natural on front teeth. Many people end up with different materials in different parts of the mouth.
Modern zirconia can look very natural, especially on back teeth and in layered form. Next to natural front teeth it can look a little more opaque than glass ceramic. Good shade matching and shaping make a bigger difference than the material alone.
That line is usually the metal edge of a porcelain fused to metal crown showing after the gum has receded. It is not always a health problem, but it can be a cosmetic concern, and it is worth checking for decay at that edge. A metal-free crown avoids it.
Yes. Gold alloy crowns are very durable, need the least tooth removed and are gentle on the opposing teeth, so they remain a solid choice for back molars, especially for heavy grinders who don't mind the look.
Gold alloy and solid zirconia are the most resistant to breaking, but how long any crown lasts depends more on the tooth underneath, your gums, grinding habits and cleaning at the crown edge than on material alone.
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