Depending on the objectives of the dental treatment and the patient’s financial possibilities, crowns made in the dental surgery can be non-physiognomic, semi-physiognomic and fully physiognomic.
Before we delve deeper into the comparison, it is advisable to find out what a dental crown actually is.
Dental crowns are the dental professionals’ lifesaving solution when patients come to the office with broken or crooked teeth, deep cavities, large fillings, incorrect bite or bruxism.
All of these dental problems lead to tooth wear, which usually results in tooth loss.
Dental crowns are the optimal solution for such situations, they cover the visible surface of the tooth that required dental treatment, giving it, besides a perfect aesthetic appearance, durability and strength.
Types of dental crowns
Depending on the material they are made of, dental crowns can be made of:
ceramic
metal-ceramic
metal
acrylic
metal-acrylic
integral zirconia
zirconia-ceramic
Each category is accompanied by certain specifications as well as sub-categories. For example, the ceramic crown, which is the most tolerated by the body, can be mounted on a noble, semi-noble or ordinary metal support, but can also be integral, pressed, without metal support.
The favorite of both dentists and patients is the zirconia crown, a very strong crown made of a material whose color is very close to that of natural teeth, often used for front teeth.
Metal-ceramic crowns are very durable and are often used in the molar areas where the chewing process is concentrated.
Metal crowns, although extremely durable, do not provide the appearance and aesthetics and are not as well tolerated by soft tissues as pressed ceramic or zirconia crowns.
Why do we prefer zirconia for dental crowns?
In recent years, zirconia has distanced itself from the materials used for dental crowns and is the recommended material for patients who want a beautiful smile and strong teeth. Zirconia is a strong and durable material that stoically endures daily wear and tear. This is why it is often used as the framework for porcelain crowns.
The mechanical forces generated by the masticatory process are taken up by the zirconia which ensures the durability of the work and, together with the porcelain, gives the teeth a natural appearance.
But let’s look at the distinct advantages of zirconia dental crowns compared to other types of dental crowns:
Superior strength of metal-ceramic and metal crowns
The only type of crown that gives a natural look to the teeth, guaranteeing superior aesthetics to other types of crowns
High tolerance to tooth tissue compared to metal-ceramic and metal crowns
Impeccable adaptation to the tooth structure due to the technology used for their construction, which is based on scanning the dental impression and milling the zirconia, rather than casting, which is used for metal crowns
Translucency, light penetrates through the porcelain and zirconia layers similar to the way it penetrates through natural teeth (enamel, dentin).
Lack of thermal conductivity which means no more hot or cold pain sensations
Reduced food retention compared to the other two types of crowns
Easier to clean than metal-ceramic and metal crowns
Presence of less allergen than in the other two types of crowns
Tooth longevity
Why is the zirconia crown more expensive than the other types of crowns?
Because of all these advantages, it is natural that the price of zirconia dental crowns is higher than the other types of crowns.
Zirconia, like ceramic and titanium, is much more expensive than other materials, such as non-noble metal alloys and acrylate. Zirconia is also processed in sintering furnaces and CAD/CAM systems, complex state-of-the-art equipment. Read more about CAD-CAM technology on digipedia.
The CAD-CAM technology we use for zirconia dental crowns is state-of-the-art.
Dentists and dental technicians working on zirconia crowns must be experienced in this field, specialization requires resources invested in qualifications, standards and equipment.
All this is reflected in the quality of the zirconia crown, which will ensure functional teeth and a natural appearance of your teeth.
Depending on the objectives of the dental treatment and the patient’s financial possibilities, crowns made in the dental surgery can be non-physiognomic, semi-physiognomic and fully physiognomic.
