Top 5 things to know about porcelain-fused-to-metal.

Porcelain fused to metal crowns are made with a metal-alloy interior and a porcelain exterior. This allows them to have the strength provided by metal substructure combined with the aesthetics of porcelain veneer. Porcelain-fused-to-metal-crowns are used for the restoration of broken teeth to protect remaining tooth structure, maintain occlusion and provide aesthetics. Here are five things to know about porcelain fused to metal crowns:

1.Used for dental bridges or crowns

Porcelain fused to metal crowns are generally used to restore teeth that are extremely damaged or decayed. A porcelain fused to metal crown is a cap that is cemented over a natural tooth to protect it from further damage or decay. A porcelain fused to metal bridge is used to restore missing teeth and is composed of two porcelain fused to metal crowns with a fake tooth in the middle.

2. Provides affordable aesthetics

Porcelain fused to metal crowns and bridges are highly aesthetic just like ceramic crowns, but are far more affordable than them. The outer shell of porcelain is extremely aesthetic. Porcelain has both the same color as natural teeth and very similar translucent properties. Which means that teeth restored with a porcelain fused to metal crown looks much more natural compared to other types. 

3. Extremely durable

Porcelain fused to metal crowns and bridges are the strongest and most resistant  dental crowns. Due to its strength, these crowns are ideal choices for restoring teeth that are located in the back of the mouth. They are also recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth. They can withstand the pressure of chewing for a longer period of time. Porcelain fused to metal crowns can last for many years with proper care and good oral hygiene practices.

4. Can be fabricated using different metals

PFM crowns can be fabricated using different metals such as base metal alloys, titanium alloys, and gold alloys. 

5. PFM crowns have been in use for decades

PFM dental restorations have been around for years, which means they are a dependable choice for restoration fabrication. Even though all-ceramic crowns offer aesthetics, they are not as dependable as porcelain fused to metal crowns.

What are different alloys used in porcelain-fused-to-metal?

A PFM crown would be preferred in porcelain fused to metal vs zirconia crown; especially, when the area has limited vertical space. Different types of alloys that are used in porcelain fused to metal crowns include: 

• Non-noble alloys: Non-noble alloys, also known as base metals, have good metallic surfaces of less than 25% to provide high resistance to corrosion. The benefits of these metal alloy crowns is that they are lightweight, have increased mechanical properties, and reduced costs. This type of material is also resistant to wear and is gentle to opposing teeth. Other elements that can be included in this dental alloy include iron, silicon, tungsten, manganese, carbon, and molybdenum.
• Noble alloys: Noble alloys should have a minimum noble metal content of 25%. These alloys are compatible with porcelain and capable of bonding to it, a layer of porcelain is fused to this alloy to give it a natural tooth-like appearance.
• High noble alloys: High noble metal alloys contain over 60% noble metal that could be gold, platinum, or palladium which must be more than 40% gold to adhere to your tooth’s structure. The remaining metals within this alloy may consist of silver and copper with smaller amounts of indium, iridium, zinc or rhenium.