Materials
Porcelain
Porcelain is a hard, tooth-colored ceramic used to make crowns, veneers, and other dental restorations that look like natural teeth.
Dentists use porcelain because it can be matched to the color of your teeth and it resists staining. It is made in a lab from fine ceramic powders that are shaped and fired. Porcelain is used for veneers, crowns, inlays, and bridges. The ADA says the two main types of veneers are porcelain and composite. Porcelain can chip if it takes a hard bite. Some crowns pair porcelain with a metal base, as in a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. Your dentist will talk with you about which material fits your tooth and your bite. See our porcelain crown page.