How is a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown made?

Crowns are suitable for restoring teeth damaged by caries, injury, or wear. The process of making a porcelain crown includes tooth preparation, impression taking, shade matching, fabrication and sintering, try-in, and cementation. If you have any concerns, it is recommended to consult a dentist in advance. Detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Tooth preparation: This is the first step in making a porcelain crown. The dentist will precisely grind the patient's tooth to reduce the natural tooth size, making sufficient space for the crown. Meanwhile, tooth preparation helps ensure better adaptation of the crown after completion, improving its stability and comfort. During the grinding process, the dentist will ensure that the amount of tooth tissue removed is appropriate to avoid affecting the tooth's health and function.

2. Impression taking: After tooth preparation, the dentist will take an impression of the prepared tooth using materials such as silicone rubber to obtain the exact shape and size of the patient's teeth. During this process, the dentist will ensure the accuracy and completeness of the impression so that the fabricated porcelain crown will precisely match the patient's teeth. Once the impression is completed, plaster will be poured into the impression to create a plaster model for the crown fabrication.

3. Shade matching: Shade matching is an important step to ensure the color of the porcelain crown matches the patient's natural teeth. The dentist will use a shade guide or spectrophotometer to compare the color of the patient's original teeth or adjacent teeth under natural light to determine the appropriate shade for the porcelain crown. During the shade selection, the dentist will consider various factors such as the tooth's brightness, hue, and saturation to ensure the fabricated porcelain crown appears natural and realistic.

4. Fabrication and sintering: After impression taking and shade matching, the plaster model and shade information will be sent to a dental laboratory. In the lab, technicians will fabricate a wax pattern of the porcelain crown based on the model and color information, and then encase the wax pattern in a special refractory material. After high-temperature casting and sintering processes, the metal substructure and porcelain layers will be tightly bonded together, forming a strong and aesthetically pleasing porcelain crown.

5. Try-in and cementation: Once the porcelain crown is fabricated, it will be returned to the dentist for try-in. During the try-in process, the dentist will check the fit, color match, and aesthetics of the crown to ensure patient satisfaction. If everything is normal, the dentist will use a special bonding agent to cement the porcelain crown onto the patient's tooth, completing the restoration process.

After completing the porcelain crown restoration, patients should follow the dentist's recommendations for regular oral hygiene maintenance and follow-up visits to ensure long-term health and aesthetics of the porcelain crown.