A patient is in the office for a dental examination and has expressed concern over his gold crown on tooth #28. Although the too
th is not causing any problems for the patient, he has said that he does not like the way it looks when he smiles. He had the gold crown placed many years ago and didn’t realize at the time how much it would affect his appearance. What type of fixed prosthesis could the dental assistant recommend to the patient for the replacement of the gold crown on tooth #28?
The patient is a good candidate for a porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown. Lab technicians fabricate these by adding a thin layer of porcelain over a metal crown. This type of crown is very durable and can withstand forces of mastification. The color or shade of the crown can be customized to the patient's adjacent tooth shade, making it an esthetically pleasing restoration for the patient.
