Are you thinking of getting a crown (on your teeth, I mean)? Might be best to go for the gold.

[raccoon]

I have a porcelain crown that has chipped badly. It was put in in the mid-80's. You thought they would last
a lifetime? Wrong, I thought so too.

I read (and it's on the Internet, so it must be true) that for back teeth, gold might be better because of so much force in biting and chewing on your back teeth.

On your front teeth, for cosmetic reasons, you may prefer the porcelain.

Anybody had experience with zirconia crowns?

"Zirconia crowns are an entirely new type of aesthetic tooth colored crown. Zirconia crowns are much stronger than porcelain crowns and to be made thinner; necessitating less reduction of the your tooth. Zirconia crowns are a great choice for back molars where the highest pressures in the mouth occur. Zirconia is so tough it is almost impossible to fracture. If you are a patient who grinds their teeth but doesn’t want a flashy gold crown, zirconia may be the perfect choice."

http://www.atlantisdental.com/porcelain-crown-vs-gold-crown/

[raccoon]

1. I would've put this on GD, but I put something about the 2 thieves who were crucified there, and

it got locked for being on the wrong forum.

[TexasTowelie]

2. No experience with zirconia crowns, but depending on age, medical and dental histories

it may be cheaper to plan on having dental implants or get dentures made.

I started getting crowns in my early 20's and had several crowns replaced when cavities developed underneath (yes that can happen). In my early 30's I developed type I diabetes. Eventually nearly all of my teeth had crowns.

Around age 42, my teeth started shattering and it got to the point that I was in the dentist's office nearly every month. Obviously, the expense was tremendous and I couldn't stay ahead of the everything. Earlier this year I had oral surgery to remove the 4 remaining teeth in my upper jaw and I had the 11 teeth in the lower jaw removed last month (the stitches are out, but I have a huge scab on the gums). I estimate that from the time I left college, I spent about $75,000 on dental procedures and crowns.

You should feel fortunate that you were able to get your money's worth on the crown that chipped. Most dentists have told me that crowns generally last about 15 years. If you decide to get a replacement crown, then you have my sympathy. The burnt rubber smell when they remove the old crown is awful and I know that my teeth would throb in pain afterwards. Make certain that you get any prescriptions for pain meds filled before those appointments.

Good luck!

[LiberalEsto]

3. I had a molar with a gold crown yanked recently

It developed decay under the crown.
I insisted on keeping the gold part, and made $71 selling it at a coin & jewelry store.

[eugene jones]

4. Don't know about Zirconia....

but I have two gold ones in the back after the porcelains failed. So far, so good.

[REP]

5. I have gold crowns on teeth that don't show; porcelain-over-gold on the one that does

My teeth are made of chalk or maybe limestone; at any rate, they're not good so when I have work done (weekly, it seems), I have the MOST durable material used, not the most aesthetic ... except for front teeth. My gold crowns have been on for 22, 14 and 5 years; my porcelain-over-gold had to be redone - it didn't fail; it just was done by a crappy dentist, but it took 26 years before it could legitimately be replaced with another porcelain-over-gold.

All the teeth that have amalgam fillings I still have. The ones that had composites, I have in a box in a drawer.

[LeftofObama]

6. My dentist told me the exact same thing.

that for back teeth, gold might be better because of so much force in biting and chewing on your back teeth. It's been about 7 years and no problems so far.

I got a porcelain over gold crown about 30 years ago and it's still there too. No problems so far.

[CabalPowered]

7. I have a zirc crown

My only one, so I can't compare. They were able to color it to match my teeth perfectly. No complaints here. It was slightly more expensive than gold. Just enough to correct my dental maintenance shortcomings.