Dental devices such as crowns, bridges and implants are disclosed, such devices comprising a self-supporting structural layer, a ceramic outer layer attached to the structural layer, and a porcelain layer attached to the ceramic layer, the ceramic outer layer made of a nitride, oxide or oxynitride of titanium (Ti) or zirconium (Zr). The devices are biocompatible and can have thin layers that are exactingly tailored. In one embodiment, a gold layer is disposed between the ceramic outer layer and the porcelain layer. In one embodiment, the gold layer comprises a nanocomposite of gold and oxides, nitrides or oxynitrides of indium, tin or zinc. In one embodiment, the structural layer is made of a cobalt alloy having a coefficient of expansion that substantially matches that of the porcelain layer. Methods for making and using such devices are also disclosed, including vapor deposition of metal and/or ceramic layers.