Zirconium crowns

Zirconium crowns

Zirconium dioxide is considered as the most durable, resistant and hypoallergenic material currently used in dentistry. Zirconium was used for prosthetics of joints and gained popularity very fast, so, a while ago, zirconium crowns for teeth appeared. In addition to convenience and durability, they practically do not differ in appearance from natural teeth.

What is zirconium dioxide

In terms of chemical composition, zirconium is a metal. Zirconium oxides practically do not show metallic properties, they are hypoallergenic and look more like a gem, than metal. Cubic zirconia (analogue of diamond) is exactly produced from zirconium. Zirconia, used in dentistry, has a transparency and a white tint, which allows crowns to look natural. The translucent frame is covered with a ceramic layer on its top, which gives the crowns a natural appearance. Mostly, fixed structures as bridges (several fused crowns on adjacent teeth) and individual single prostheses, are made of zirconium.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of zirconium can be discussed for a long time, but it is especially worth noting:

• durability – in the absence of problems with teeth and gums, structures made of zirconium serve up to 20-25 years;
• strength – the breakdown of the zirconium frame is an exceptional case and occurs mainly due to manufacturing errors;
• manufacturing accuracy – CAD / CAM technology allows you to make a crown on a special machine using a 3D model with almost no human involvement;
• biocompatibility and hypoallergenicity – unlike a metal frame, zirconium does not interact with saliva and oral tissues, does not cause galvanism and allergies;
• natural appearance.

Compared to metal-ceramic, zirconium crowns are thinner and lighter, despite their strength. This allows you to minimize the preparation of teeth for prosthetics and sometimes it is even possible to install a zirconium crown on a “living” tooth without removing the nerve.

Installation Recommendations

Zirconium crowns are often mounted on the front teeth due to the high esthetics. They allow you to correct the natural shape and color of your teeth, make them ideal and, at the same time, completely natural. Small chips of ceramics may appear with a long service life of the crowns, but due to the light frame they are almost invisible, unlike metal-ceramic, which have a dark frame and are able to oxidize and change color when chips appear.

Strength and resistance to stress make zirconia crowns an excellent option for chewing teeth, especially if you have an allergy to base metals (cobalt, nickel, chromium) in the composition of metal-ceramic. The edge of the zirconium crown in contact with gums does not cause inflammation and blueness. Only crowns with a gold frame have the same hypoallergenicity and strength, but also they are much more expensive.

At Brickell Dental Care, we also work with PFM crowns. In some cases, the doctor recommends patients to install metal-ceramic crowns, for example, if the patient had worn metal or metal-ceramic crowns before.

To find out which of these options are right for you, contact us by phone (407) 989-9999