PFMs
Porcelain fused to Metal
Our team at Mabel Dental Lab produces high-quality porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crowns. As one of the trusted dental labs serving practices nationwide, we help dentists save valuable chair time and money by prescribing our PFMs. Mabel Dental offers a wide variety of durable Argen® and Ivoclar® alloys, combined with Shofu® porcelain.
Porcelain fused to metal restorations are beneficial for crowns and full-arch bridges with any metal or porcelain margin design. PFMs are also ideal for crowns and bridges used in conjunction with screw-retained implants, attachments, and partial dentures. There are many advantages to a PFM crown, including its cost-effectiveness, durability, unique protection, natural-looking appearance, reduced tooth sensitivity, and minimized risk of allergic reactions.
PFM Crown Types
The technicians at Mabel Dental work with a few varieties of PFM crowns, depending on the characteristics you are looking for. Here is more information about the PFM crowns our dental lab produces:
Non-precious
A high strength, nickel chromium alloy designed specifically for our Shofu® Porcelain.
Noble / Semi-precious
The most common alloy on the market today, it is micro-fined grained to provide superior physical properties for all types of crown and bridge structures.
High Noble / Precious
This versatile alloy casts, finishes, solders and laser welds very easily, with broad porcelain compatibility. It has exceptional strength, and allows for the fabrication of any type of PFM restoration, including implants.
Indications
Crowns and bridges
Large span bridges
Restorations in the esthetic zone
Cementation
A dentist should use conventional, adhesive resin or self-adhesive resin cement for luting PFMs. Adhesive cementation requires salinization of conditioning of the bonding surface of the restorations. Adhesive cement is preferred for inlay, onlay, and partial crown. Anterior and posterior full restorations can be cemented with conventional, adhesive resin or self-adhesive resin cements. The inside of the PFM crown may need to be sandblasted prior to seating in order to prepare the bonding surface for cementation. Please refer to the user manual for more detailed sandblasting instructions.
Turnaround Time
Physical: 8 in-lab days
Digital: 6 in-lab days
PFM Crown Fabrication Process
After receiving your impressions digitally or in the mail, our technicians will pour a stone model. We then create a wax crown on the model and use this to make a mold. After casting molten metal into the mold, we carefully apply porcelain layers and fire them in a kiln to bond them with the metal. The finishing touches include staining, glazing, and polishing the PFM crown. Our dental lab also verifies the PFM crowns fit accurately before sending them back to you for cementation. For physical impressions, our turnaround time is eight days in the lab. For digital impressions, we require six full days in the lab.
Benefits of a PFM Crown
There are numerous benefits to using PFM crowns in your office. These include durability, aesthetics, versatility, and more. A PFM crown features a metal substructure that enhances strength and fracture resistance for patients, particularly when used on teeth that experience high bite pressure.
Our dental lab technicians are also able to match the PFM crown to blend in with the surrounding teeth. This makes them suitable for anterior applications, allowing individuals to enjoy both strength and aesthetic quality. PFMs are versatile because they can be used for single teeth, multi-unit bridges, or full-mouth restorations. This makes them a flexible solution used by many dental labs for both simple and complex cases. Collaborate with our team to discover the benefits of PFMs and determine if they are the right solution for your case.
Work With Our Dental Lab Today
Search ‘dental lab near me’ to discover why so many clinics choose Mabel Dental Lab for quality and precision products. We provide PFM crowns in a variety of metals to suit your preferences. We also offer high-quality crowns and bridges in materials like e.max and zirconia. Contact us today to learn more about our PFM crown fabrication process or to get started sending a case.