Zirconia dental crown Advantages

Zirconia – the material that has revolutionized dentistry – has a number of advantages. In the following we will present these advantages of Zirconia crowns over other types of dental crowns.

The name zirconia comes from the Persian word zargon, which means ‘gold-colored’.

This metal is very hard and very resistant to corrosion. Zirconia is the most mechanically and chemically durable material used in dentistry.

Since Zirconia began to be processed at an affordable price, its applications in medicine have become more and more common.

In dentistry, pure Zirconia is not used to make a dental crown, but a chemical combination of Zirconia called Zirconia oxide. ZrO2

Aesthetics

This material looks like white ceramic with a translucency similar to natural teeth, which gives it a great aesthetic advantage.

One of the advantages of zirconia is that light passes through the material as it does through the natural tooth and is reflected identically.

In recent years, Zirconia oxide ceramics have become the material of choice in the field of dentistry for prosthetic crown and bridge restorations.

Biocompatibility

Like gold, Zirconia is biologically inert (bio-inert), so the possibility of an allergic reaction can be eliminated and it does not corrode. On top of all this, Zirconia does not generate unpleasant (metallic) taste or gingival marginal staining and does not cause pulpal irritation.

It bears mentioning that this highly appreciated material is five times more resistant than the ceramics in classic metal-ceramic work. Its particular resistance to pressure makes it capable of withstanding masticatory stress and wear without fracturing.

Precision

Another notable advantage is the precision of the work. These are achieved with computerized systems and the cutting of a solid block of Zirconia oxide is carried out with remarkable accuracy.

The technique is called CAD-CAM computer aided design – computer aided manufacturing. Read more about CAD-CAM technology on DigiPedia.

Resistance

Tooth grinding (bruxism), incorrect biting (malocclusion), tooth decay can all lead to wear, fracture or cracking of teeth over time. Dental crowns cover the entire denture tooth. The crown coats it and gives it the necessary strength, durability and stability.

In addition to its functional role, the crown also has an aesthetic role, correcting the shape or alignment of the tooth.

Zirconia-supported dental crowns represent a revolution in modern dentistry. In addition to all the properties mentioned above, they are much lighter than metal-supported crowns and bridges, which is a great advantage especially when it comes to multi-unit dental crowns and bridges.

Zirconia dental crowns also have very low bacterial plaque affinity.

Zirconia dental crowns may be of three types:

Anatomical Zirconia – the dental crown is milled from zirconia for the most part, having a contour very close to the final shape of the tooth – hence the name anatomical zirconia. A thin layer of ceramic is applied on top of the zirconia (this type of dental crown is mainly used for the lateral area, due to the very high resistance to the higher forces in this area).

Multilayer Zirconia – The intermediate variant, multilayer zirconia, the zirconia start is thicker, > 1mm, requiring fewer ceramic layers to achieve the final shape of the crown.

Eco-Line Zirconia – the dental crown has a 0.5 mm -1.00 mm thick zirconia core layer covered with several layers of ceramic, this is the economical solution hence the name Economical-Line Zirconia or in short: Eco Line.

Due to the increased adhesion on the internal structure, compared to other classical metal-backed works, it is extremely rare that the ceramic applied on Zirconia detaches or fractures.

The risk of allergy with zirconia is nonexistent.

There are no patients allergic to this material. Zirconia is also thermally inert.

It does not conduct heat, so thermal variations are not transmitted to the dental pulp (nerve) and so the risk of pulp irritation is reduced.

The CAD-CAM technology we use for zirconia dental crowns is state-of-the-art.

As in any industrial branch and in the processing of zirconia dental crowns, the laboratory that produces them guarantees the material, and it is not by chance that we have chosen the technicians from Rana Art Dent as our partners since 2010.

Price

Conclusions:

Dental crowns are used to restore both the functionality of a damaged tooth and its esthetic side.

They can be applied over either a tooth or an implant. Depending on the patient’s requirements and financial situation, they can choose the material from which they want the crown to be made. Zirconia is the most commonly used material today because of its strength and appearance.

Zirconia is a chemical element of the metal group and one of the newest materials to combine the strength of metal with the aesthetic appeal of porcelain.

Some of the advantages of zirconia crowns are:

It has a color close to teeth.

Zirconia does not have a metallic color which precludes the possibility of exposing metal margins in case of gum recession.

They are durable.

Zirconia can be layered with porcelain for an even more tooth-like aesthetic.

Zirconia is biocompatible – it will not cause adverse reactions in your body.

Unlike traditional restorations, zirconia does not transmit heat fluctuations and therefore does not harm natural teeth. They offer greater comfort than most other restorations.

Zirconia crowns are particularly effective in reducing the likelihood of plaque and tartar buildup because their smooth surface is shiny enough to discourage these build-ups.

Zirconia crowns do have some disadvantages that you should consider. Although this material is more similar to a real tooth than gold and other metals, it is more opaque (less transparent). If you need to replace a front tooth, zirconia may have a noticeably different shade than other teeth. This is especially true for monolithic zirconia crowns, which are made only of zirconia, although it may be less of a problem for side teeth. And while strength is one of the many benefits of zirconia – there are times when this can cause abrasion to neighboring teeth. Another disadvantage of it is its higher cost price compared to other metals.

Regardless of the material you choose for your crown, make sure you practice good oral hygiene as you do with all teeth. Brush at least twice a day, floss or clean between your teeth with interdental brushes or mouth irrigators at least once a day, and consider using other helpful products, antimicrobial mouthwash and tongue depressors. Be sure to schedule regular cleanings with your dentist – not only to keep your teeth healthy, but also to check the condition of your crown.

If you have a decayed tooth with extensive dental hard tissue damage and are trying to decide if zirconia is the right material for your crown, your dentist will be able to advise you best.