Advantages of Zirconia Crowns
When you have a tooth that has been too damaged to be treated with a filling or needs to be replaced completely with a dental implant, the dentist will turn to a dental crown as a way to protect and strengthen the remaining natural tooth or to take over for the removed tooth. Dental crowns can be used to keep dental bridges and partial dentures in place as a way to attach the dental fixture to the remaining teeth. In the past, dentists have used gold, metal alloys, and porcelain to create the crowns. Unfortunately, gold and metal alloy crowns do not blend in with the surrounding teeth and can cause allergic reactions to the metals. Porcelain crowns appear more like your natural teeth, but chip easily and need to be repaired or replaced. Fortunately, there is an alternative to these options with zirconium.
What is Zirconium?
Zirconium is a type of crystal made from a combination of ceramic and other nonmetal materials. In general, people look to crystal as a durable and enduring material so zirconium shares these traits as well. When you are looking to select a material for your dental crown, some of the reasons to consider zirconium include:
Biocompatibility
Like the metallic material titanium, zirconium has the ability to fuse with bone and tissue in the body. Zirconium has a very low chance, less than ½%, that it will be rejected by the body or cause allergic reactions.
Protective
If your tooth has been broken or it is stained, zirconium will cover the cosmetic inconsistency better than porcelain will.
Durable
Zirconium can stand up to the everyday wear and tear from chewing and biting, even better than your natural teeth. Compared to porcelain, zirconium is five times stronger. Zirconium is resistant to changes in temperature so your damaged tooth and more exposed nerve will be less likely to experience sensitivity.
Long Lasting
Without the risk of chips and cracks like porcelain, your zirconium crown will be unlikely to need repair and will last longer.
Adaptable
Dentists can easily shape and adjust the size of your zirconium crown. Also, the dentist will be able to adjust the color of your crown to match the color of your surrounding teeth. When the crown is placed in your mouth, the dentist will be able to adjust the crown to fit your bite perfectly. The better the fit, the more comfortable and less noticeable the crown is.
Only a thin layer is needed
Due to the strength of the material, zirconium crowns can be made into a thin layer, thinner than other materials. When the crown isn’t thick, the dentist will not need to remove as much of the natural tooth to allow the crown to fit properly when its placed on the damaged tooth.
More natural looking
Because one of the main components of zirconium is crystal, the overall look of the crown has more translucence than metals or porcelain over metal. The crown will be able to blend in with your other teeth resulting in a smile you will want to share.
Metal free
Many people are looking to avoid metals in their dental work for both aesthetic reasons and a more holistic approach. Zirconium does not require any metal in the crown.