Dental Crowns: Porcelain, Zirconia or Gold?

By Lovik Mirzaeian, DDS. Updated October 2026.

For a front tooth, a layered porcelain crown usually looks the most natural; for a molar that takes heavy chewing, zirconia is the most durable tooth-colored choice; and for a back tooth in a heavy grinder, gold remains the material that lasts longest and is kindest to the teeth it bites against. Most patients today choose zirconia or porcelain because they want white teeth, and both are excellent. But the right answer depends on which tooth it is, how hard you bite, and whether you mind seeing metal when you laugh.

If you are still deciding whether a crown is needed at all, start with our post on whether you really need a crown. This post assumes the tooth needs one and walks through the material choice.

What All Crowns Have in Common

A crown is a cap that covers the whole visible part of a tooth. I reshape the tooth to make room, scan or take an impression, and a lab or an in-office milling machine makes the crown, which is then cemented on. The material affects how it looks, how long it lasts, how thick it needs to be, and what it does to the tooth opposite it.

Porcelain

When dentists say porcelain, they usually mean one of two things. Older crowns were porcelain fused to a metal core. They are still made, but they show a dark line at the gum as the gum recedes, and the porcelain can chip off the metal.

The modern version is all-ceramic, most often lithium disilicate, a glass ceramic that is strong enough for a single crown and beautiful in the front of the mouth. It transmits light the way enamel does, and in the hands of a good lab it disappears into the smile. For a front tooth, this is usually what I recommend. Its limit is strength under heavy load. On a molar in a person with a powerful bite, a glass ceramic crown can fracture.

Zirconia

Zirconia is a very hard, very tough ceramic. Early zirconia crowns were strong but opaque and chalky white. Newer versions come in translucent grades that look far more natural, and labs can layer porcelain over a zirconia core for front teeth. For back teeth, a solid zirconia crown is my usual recommendation: it almost never chips or breaks under normal chewing, it can be made thinner than porcelain so I remove less tooth, and it holds up well in people who clench.

The trade-off is that zirconia is harder than enamel. A rough or poorly polished zirconia crown can wear the tooth it bites against over the years, so the finish matters. Zirconia also does not look quite as lifelike as lithium disilicate in side light, which is why I still lean toward porcelain on the very front teeth.

Gold

Gold crowns have been made for well over a century, and they persist because they work. Gold alloy wears at about the same rate as enamel and does not grind down the opposing tooth. It is thin, so very little tooth needs to be removed. It does not chip, it seals well at the edges, and I have seen gold crowns placed forty years earlier still doing their job.

The obvious drawback is the color. Almost nobody wants gold on a front tooth, and many people do not want it anywhere visible. On a second molar that is out of sight, especially in someone who grinds hard, I still offer it, and a fair number of patients say yes once they understand why.

Choosing by Tooth Position

Front teeth

Appearance matters most and the bite forces are lighter. Layered porcelain, either lithium disilicate or porcelain layered over zirconia, is the usual choice. If a dark old post or a very dark tooth sits underneath, an opaque zirconia core can mask it better than translucent porcelain.

Premolars

These show when you smile widely but take more chewing force than front teeth. Either lithium disilicate or translucent zirconia works here, depending on your bite and how much tooth is left.

Molars

Strength comes first. Solid zirconia is the standard choice, with gold as the alternative for heavy grinders or for someone who has already broken a ceramic crown on that tooth.

If You Grind Your Teeth

Grinding changes the calculation. A heavy grinder can fracture porcelain, and even zirconia has limits when someone clenches with full force for hours every night. Gold is the most forgiving option in that situation. Whatever material we choose, I will also recommend a night guard, because no crown survives indefinitely against that much force, and the guard protects your natural teeth as well. If you are not sure whether you grind, our post on signs you grind your teeth at night lists the things I look for.

Cost and Longevity

All three materials fall in a similar price range at most offices, with gold sometimes higher depending on the metal market and layered porcelain sometimes higher because of the lab artistry involved. With good care and a healthy bite, any of them can last ten to fifteen years or more, and gold often goes well beyond that. What shortens a crown’s life is usually not the material but decay creeping in at the edge where the crown meets the tooth, which is why brushing and flossing around a crown matters. The American Dental Association has a short guide to crown care.

When to See a Dentist

If you have a cracked, worn, or heavily filled tooth, a routine exam is the place to look at it and talk through materials before anything breaks. If you are replacing an old crown on a front tooth and want it to blend in, our cosmetic dentistry page explains how we match shade and shape. And if a crown has come off or a tooth has broken, keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and call us so we can see you quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, zirconia or porcelain crowns?

Zirconia is stronger and better for molars and for people who clench, while layered porcelain such as lithium disilicate looks more lifelike on front teeth. Many dentists use porcelain in the front and zirconia in the back. A polished, glazed zirconia crown is gentle on the opposing teeth.

Are gold crowns still used?

Yes. Gold wears at the same rate as natural enamel, does not chip, seals well, and often lasts decades, which makes it a good choice for out-of-sight molars in heavy grinders. Its only real drawback is the color, so it is rarely used on visible teeth.

How long do dental crowns last?

With good hygiene and a healthy bite, porcelain and zirconia crowns commonly last ten to fifteen years or longer, and gold crowns often last well beyond that. Most crowns fail from decay at the edge rather than from the material breaking, so brushing and flossing around them matters.

What is the best crown material if I grind my teeth?

Gold is the most forgiving material for heavy grinders because it flexes slightly and does not fracture. Solid zirconia is the best tooth-colored option. In either case, a night guard is strongly recommended to protect the crown and the rest of your teeth.

Weighing Your Crown Options? Dr. Mirzaeian Can Help

The right material depends on the tooth, your bite, and what you want to see when you smile, and we will walk through all three with you. Please contact us to set up a consultation and we will recommend the crown that fits.

Lovik Mirzaeian, DDS has achieved extensive training in multidisciplinary dental treatments. His credentials include Dental Implants, Cosmetic Dentistry, Full Mouth Reconstruction, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, and Sleep Sedation. Our office puts your comfort and smile first, and we are dedicated to giving you top-notch dental care. Get ready to show off your perfect smile!

Looking for a trusted family dentist in Clovis? Dr. Mirzaeian welcomes new patients of all ages.