Zirconia vs Porcelain Crowns
A dental crown is a restorative cover to maintain and protect a damaged natural tooth. It will help restore the normal function, shape, and size of a tooth. According to the ADA, American Dental Association, if you have a large filling and no longer have enough tooth to hold it, a crown will help strengthen the tooth.
Your dentist can also use a dental crown to:
* Protect a weakened tooth from breaking.
* Restore a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth.
* Support a dental bridge.
* Complete a dental implant.
* Protect a tooth following a root canal.
Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, some of which can last longer than others.
The Different Materials Used for Dental Crowns
When selecting the material for your crown, your dentist will consider these factors:
* The location of the tooth in your mouth.
* The biting and chewing function of the tooth.
* Does the tooth show during your smile.
* The condition of your gum tissue.
* How much of the natural tooth is remaining.
* The color and shade of the surrounding teeth.
The various kinds of materials can be used in crowns include:
* porcelain
* ceramic
* zirconia
* composite resin
* metal
* a combination of materials
You might have a porcelain crown that is fused to a metal, or an all-porcelain crown.
The Difference Between Zirconia and Porcelain Crowns
Zirconia is a metal oxide derived from zirconium, part of the titanium family. Because of its natural strength and durability, zirconia is an outstanding material for dental crowns. Porcelain is often fused to metal crowns making a combination of porcelain and metal, to gain strength. The porcelain overlay is color-matched to your natural teeth, but sometimes the darker metal color is visible right at the gum line.
The Benefits of Zirconia versus Porcelain
Zirconia crowns have become popular and have been used successfully for years and will provide excellent strength, durability, and a natural look. The popularity for zirconia has now exceeded the demand for porcelain.
* Reliability and Durability- Zirconia is more durable than ceramics. Solid zirconia contains more stabilizers than porcelain ceramics, making it far more durable to withstand forceful biting and chewing. If maintained properly with good hygiene, zirconia crowns can last your lifetime.
* Natural Looking Smile- The zirconia crown contains no metal lining visible at the gumline. They can be custom sculpted to fit any size or shape to match the rest of your teeth.
* Exceptional Strength- Zirconia offers superior strength and durability. It can be up to five times stronger than porcelain. Zirconia will withstand wear and tear without chipping or fracturing, resulting in the ability to tolerate extreme chewing. Thanks to an even newer zirconia, a small solid block of zirconia, the crown is almost completely unbreakable and designed to withstand the intense biting and chewing pressures in the back of your mouth.
* Customization- Due to a list of factors including the chemical composition and processing requirements, there are a variety of ways zirconia can be manufactured. This customization will minimize the margin for error and ensures an excellent fit.
* Safer for Patients- Due to the high biocompatibility of zirconia, there are no allergic reactions. Zirconia possesses outstanding biocompatibility, making the crowns and bridges prepared from zirconia extremely safe for use in your mouth.
