In many cases, maintaining good oral hygiene means using dental appliances to repair and restore damaged teeth, preventing further tooth decay from negatively impacting your smile.
However, these dental practices still come with their fair share of concerns and potential problems.
If you’ve been considering getting a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown to treat a damaged or decaying tooth, then this article will help understand the top problems that patients often have with these types of dental crowns, plus how you can avoid these complications altogether.
What Are Porcelain-Fused-To-Metal Crowns?
Porcelain-fused-to-metal, or PFM crowns, are a combination of metal dental crowns with a delicate layer of porcelain crown over top, designed to create a more natural-looking appearance.
Unlike traditional ceramic crowns, PFM crowns are often a more affordable treatment option, as well as being considered more durable than other types of crown materials.
And because they can be colored to match your natural tooth, PFM crowns are usually a top choice for repairing front teeth without giving a noticeable appearance.
What Problems Can Come With PFM Crowns?
While modern dental care can help you eliminate many of the risks associated with getting a dental crown, there are a few common problems you should speak with your dentist about before having a crown put in place.
Visible Metal Lines
Despite being tooth-colored, PFM crowns are still made with a foundation of noble metal.
And when not applied properly, these metal fragments can begin to show through the edges of your crown, creating a less-than-desirable appearance along your smile.
This often occurs when chewing forces the porcelain to deteriorate over time, especially if the crown wasn’t adequately applied in the first place.
Broken Or Chipped Crowns
Even though porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are still considered to be more durable than many of their counterparts, you still run the risk of chipping or cracking your crown, which can cause dangerous tooth decay to continue underneath the surface of your crown.
Typically, damage to the exterior of your care can be attributed to not following oral hygiene instructions given to your by your dentist, like not brushing properly or consuming too many acidic foods and beverages.
And while PFM crowns cost less than other dental appliances, having a chipped crown repaired can be an expensive and often time-consuming process.
Bite Alignment Issues
Anytime that your dental crown has become broken or chipped, you don’t just have the appearance factor to worry about.
When this happens, it can also cause your natural bite to become misaligned, leading to severe side effects like headaches, difficulty chewing, and pain in the jaw area.
If you have a PFM crown and suspect that you may be clenching or grinding your teeth due to stress or another condition, you should contact your dental care provider to discuss preventative measures as soon as possible.
Receding Gum Line
Another potentially problematic result of having a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is having your gum line become discolored and, in severe cases, receding backward.
Sometimes, this happens when the metal portion of the crown irritates the gum line, causing it to push back as time goes on.
But in other cases, a receding gum line can be an indication of another oral hygiene concern like gum disease, which can disrupt the appearance of your dental crown.
Allergic Reactions
Finally, most medical procedures involve the risk of an allergic reaction to the materials being used, and dental care is no different.
Even if you aren’t aware of having a metal allergy, the crowned tooth can still develop a sensitivity to these materials after being installed, which can cause serious complications for your overall health.
If you haven’t already, you should check with your doctor to rule out any potential allergic reactions before getting a crown or any other dental procedure.
How Can You Avoid Complications From A PFM Crown?
The easiest way to avoid porcelain-fused-to-metal crown problems is to work with a highly skilled dental care professional who takes the time to ensure that your crowns are properly applied, as well as offers you support for any additional maintenance your crowns may need.
The team at East Valley Dental Professionals is to help our patients receive high-quality care for all of their dental appliances, no matter what type of crown you need.
Learn more about how we can help you prevent dental crown complications by contacting our office at (430) 838-3033.
The statements on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author of the blog is contracted third-party writer. East Valley Dental Professionals LLC does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. Always consult your dentist or your other personal physicians for specific medical advice.
Have a question about your smile?
Dr. Smith and our Dobson Ranch team can talk through your options at your next visit.
