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The Pros and Cons of Full-Cast Metal Crowns and Bridges

Dental Bridge is the fix partial denture. It's a porcelain fuse to metal type.

Today, people are more aware of the benefits of aesthetic dentistry and that has resulted in a continuously growing number of patients who go to their dentists to request for all-ceramic or porcelain-fused-to-metal dental restorations. However, despite the popularity of these cosmetically-outstanding bridges and crowns, there may be instances when full-cast metal restorations are a better option for repairing posterior teeth. As a matter of fact, all-metal restorations are a great choice for patients who are not that concerned about getting perfect aesthetics and just want the best protection available for their teeth. Dental alloys of today have been engineered in such a way that they are able to provide topnotch physical properties that meet many patient requirements.

PROS

A full-cast metal restoration is not likely to break and it can really work for a patient with posterior teeth that are badly damaged. It’s also great when a full-cast fixed dental bridge is necessary. When a tooth is being prepared for a full-cast crown, the occlusal surface and all axial walls should be prepared to help provide better retention compared to opting for a conservative restoration on that tooth.

Full-metal crowns are also highly bio-compatible, especially if precious metal allow is chosen. For instance, metal alloy have really good bio-compatibility with gingival tissue so they won’t promote allergic reactions. They are also not susceptible to plaque, non-corrosive, and do not absorb fluids. Ful-cast metal crowns do not have to be thick to be strong so the patient can preserve more of the original tooth. A full-cast crown is indeed a good choice when there’s limited space.

While full –cast metal bridges and crowns are really strong, they are also really kind to opposing dentition. They reduce the risk of excessive wear as they provide a similar coefficient to that of natural tooth enamel. If the risk of wear to opposing teeth is a potential issue it would be better to go for precious or semi-precious dental alloys as they are softer but still highly durable.

CONS

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of a full-cast metal bridge or crown is its appearance. As a dentist, you want to let your patient know beforehand that this kind of restoration is visible in the mouth when they laugh or smile. Precious metal crowns and bridges can also get a bit expensive, depending on the market cost of the metal used. If you are not going to use a precious or semi-precious metal, you should check if the patient has any allergies to metal. Base-metal alloys may contain beryllium, chrome, or nickel to which some people are allergic to.

If you or your patient has any questions about full-cast metal bridge or crown, you can always give Dental Laboratory Associates a call and we’d be happy to assist you and discuss everything you want to know in detail.

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