Dental Implants | Esthetic Dentistry
Periodontology | Dr. George Makris & Co.

Dental crowns are prosthetic restorations used for the coverage and protection of a damaged or worn tooth. They are usually made from materials such as porcelain, metal, or composite materials and are placed on the tooth after any decay has been removed. Crowns reinforce the tooth’s structure, improve its aesthetic appearance, and restore its function, allowing the patient to chew normally. They are often used in cases of severe decay, root canal treatments, or after dental procedures.

What is the difference between M/C (metal-ceramic) crown and O/C (all-ceramic) crown?

• The M/C crown is the most commonly used type of crown in daily practice, either as a standalone restoration or as a mechanical support for a fixed bridge. Its characteristic is that it consists of a metal framework that completely encircles the prepared tooth. This metal framework is covered with an aesthetic coating material, typically a type of porcelain.
• The O/C crown does not have a metal framework but is entirely made of ceramic material. The absence of a metal framework ensures very good aesthetics in these restorations, which can closely mimic the natural properties of teeth (translucency, iridescence, etc.).

Do they have the same durability?

Despite their high aesthetics, all-ceramic crowns/bridges have relatively reduced durability. They are primarily indicated for anterior teeth and for small restorations. When there are occlusal problems or particularly intense chewing forces are exerted (such as parafunctional habits like bruxism, a very strong chewing system, etc.), we prefer metal-ceramic crowns.

What is the difference between an O/C crown and a porcelain veneer?

• The O/C crown requires the preparation (grinding) of the entire tooth for its placement. In contrast, a porcelain veneer involves a very conservative reduction of only the front surface of the tooth, with the veneer bonded on it.
• The choice of an all-ceramic veneer over an all-ceramic crown or vice versa depends on many factors, such as the condition of the tooth substance (e.g., large cavities, wear), the presence of rotations, tilts, spaces, the occlusal shape of the teeth, and the presence of old fillings or other restorations (old crowns) on the teeth to be treated.

What is the difference between a porcelain veneer and a resin veneer (bonding)? How many appointments does each require and what is their cost?

• All-ceramic veneers are porcelain veneers that are bonded to the buccal surface of the anterior teeth to correct minor to moderate imperfections in the position, shape, and color of these teeth. Porcelain veneers require at least 2-3 sessions to complete because there are clinical and laboratory stages involved. All-ceramic veneers can provide a very good aesthetic result, but they require a particularly delicate laboratory process with a relatively high cost.
• Resin veneers (bonding) address issues similar to those mentioned above, with the difference that the material applied to the front surface of the teeth is composite resin and not porcelain. They can be done immediately in a single, brief session in the office. No tooth grinding is required, only a simple preparation before the application of the aesthetic material.
  Resin veneers or bonding provide a conservative, non-invasive, and reversible aesthetic approach with significantly lower cost compared to porcelain veneers. For all these reasons, it is the solution we prefer and recommend to our patients.

Can a veneer be removed?

Once a porcelain veneer is permanently bonded to the tooth, it must be destroyed to be removed, and a new one must be created, as the tooth has been ground down and cannot remain as it was.
As for a resin veneer, in order to remove it, the resin is ground off, and the tooth remains intact, just as it was before the veneer was placed.