Zirconia vs Porcelain Crowns

Zirconia vs Porcelain Crowns
A dental crown is a restoration that covers a tooth to maintain and protect it in its damaged condition. It will help restore near normal function, size, and shape of a tooth. According to the American Dental Association, or ADA, if you have a quite large dental filling and there is not enough tooth to hold it, a crown will help strengthen the tooth.
Your dentist can also use a dental crown to:
* Restore a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth.
* Protect a weakened tooth.
* Protect a tooth after a root canal.
* Support a dental bridge.
* Complete a dental implant.
Dental crowns can be made from several varied materials, some of which will last longer than others.
The Different Materials Used for Dental Crowns
When choosing the material for your crown, your dentist will consider the following factors:
* The specific location of the tooth in your mouth.
* Does the tooth when you smile.
* The biting and chewing pressures of the tooth.
* The condition of your gum tissue.
* How much of the natural tooth remains.
* The color and shade of your surrounding teeth.
The various kinds of materials can be used in crowns include:
* porcelain
* ceramic
* zirconia
* composite resin
* metal
* a combination of materials
You could have a porcelain crown that is fused to a metal, or simply an all-porcelain crown.
The Difference Between Zirconia and Porcelain Crowns
Zirconia is a metal oxide acquired from zirconium, which is part of the titanium family. Because of its unparalleled natural durability and strength, zirconia is a wonderful material for dental crowns. Porcelain is often combined with metal to give the crown more strength. The porcelain overlay is color-shaded to your natural teeth, but sometimes the darker metal color can be seen right at the gum line.
The Benefits of Zirconia versus Porcelain
Zirconia crowns continue to gain popularity as their success stories increase and will provide excellent strength, durability, and a natural look. Zirconia has now surpassed the demand for porcelain.
* Reliability and Durability- Zirconia is far more durable than ceramics. Solid zirconia contains more stabilizers than any porcelain ceramic, so it is far more durable when withstanding forceful biting and chewing. If maintained properly, zirconia crowns can last a lifetime.
* Exceptional Strength- Zirconia offers superior durability and strength. It is up to five times stronger than porcelain. Zirconia will resist wear and tear without chipping or fracturing and can tolerate extreme chewing pressures. Thanks to yet an even newer zirconia, a small solid block of zirconia, the crown is almost unbreakable and designed to now withstand the intense chewing pressures in the back of your mouth.
* Natural Looking Smile- The zirconia crown does not need assistance from metal, so there is no color change at the gumline. They can be custom fabricated to fit any size or shape and to match the rest of your teeth.
* Safer for You- Due to the biocompatibility of zirconia, there are no allergic reactions. This makes the crowns and bridges prepared from zirconia extremely safe for use in your mouth.
* Customization- Due to a variety of factors including the chemical composition and processing requirements, there are several ways zirconia can be manufactured. This customization minimizes the margin for error and helps deliver an excellent fit.