For decades, dentists have been creating dental crowns out of diverse substances, from gold to porcelain to resin. You could walk out of your chair today with a zirconium crown. Combining the power of metals with the natural look of porcelain, this relatively new material is becoming extremely common for all forms of tooth repair. So, what are zirconium crowns?

To answer this question, we should first explore what zirconia and crown are in dentistry. The white, powdered metal oxide is zirconia. It is ceramic, like other typical items of the dental crown. Zirconia is composed of Zirconium; it is a product with similar properties to Titanium.

It is a safe alternative to dental material since it is chemically unreactive. A crown is a type of dental reconstruction covering a tooth or dental implant completely and typically attached with dental cement to the tooth or abutment. Crowns may also be placed around a tooth to maximize the teeth’ strength or physical appearance. Zirconium dental crowns are the most effective materials with reliably acceptable applications to achieve the desired aesthetics, endurance, balance of texture, and naturalness.

Benefits of Zirconium Crowns:

Because of the lack of advertisements, most patients do not know anything about this form of the dental crown. Furthermore, zirconium crowns have many benefits, and these benefits are listed below:

The covering mechanism does not develop heat and cold sensitivity.
Metal-supported porcelains can be affected by light by forming a dark gap. However, Zirconium transmits all kinds of light, like natural teeth.
Even external cues, such as caffeine consumption and smoking, do not affect Zirconium’s color.
It is a safe product that does not cause taste disturbance, periosteal, and halitosis.
Thanks to its compatibility with our body, persons having the gingival disease can place Zirconium crowns. With adequate oral hygiene, zirconium crowns are compatible with gingiva.
Porcelain crowns-bridges (coatings) supported by metal are physically bonded to the teeth. Zirconium is attached to the teeth physically and chemically. They have significantly better durability than metal supports.
Another advantage of Zirconium crown is that dentists will produce them in their office. Since zirconia crowns are directly milled from solid zirconia blocks, zirconia crowns’ production requires fewer machinery, time, and materials than other types, such as composite ceramics (porcelain and other ceramics fused to a metal base).

Disadvantages of Zirconium Crowns

It is worth mentioning, although the disadvantages list of zirconia is short. Not every product is ideal for everyone. Disadvantages of zirconium crowns are listed below:

The cost: Generally, zirconia is one of the most expensive crown forms. The cost differs widely from a dentist to another. Your insurance company may not cover the cost of a crown. But to figure out whether they pay more or half of a crown’s expense, or whether they pay different types of crowns, it’s certainly worth contacting the insurance agent.

In identifying deterioration under the crown, there are immense difficulties since the crown is much more enduring.

Restricted translucency: Like porcelain or lithium disilicate (IPS), zirconia is not as translucent and thus does not appear like real teeth like other materials. For back teeth and IPS for front teeth, some dentists consider using zirconia.

Also, you should note that you can be allergic to the applied material.

The procedure of Zirconium Crowns step by step:

During the placement of the zirconium crown, there are two primary types of procedures. In one appointment, your dentist will prepare the tooth and add a temporary crown, and then cement the final crown during the second visit into the mouth.

Steps to Follow:

Take an X-ray of the mouth and brace the tooth for the process, which may require local anesthetic treatment.
If possible, extract part of your tooth’s outer coating.
Make a view of the gum.
Add a temporary crown around the tooth.
Create the crown out of your impressions in a dental lab.
After the crown’s creation, remember to come to your specialist office so that he can cement it on your tooth.

Zirconia Varieties

Two forms of zirconia take place in modern dentistry: Solid and strongly translucent. CAD-CAM technology implies rendering any of them. CAD stands for Computer Assisted Designing, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing stands for CAM. These innovations provide you with an exact fit and an unexpected appearance.

High Translucent Zirconia: This type of zirconia gives you superior looks that precisely replicate your natural teeth. For the anterior/front teeth, it is more fitting. Your dentist does not choose high transparent zirconia if you require extensive orthodontic surgery to correct your teeth’ orientation.

Solid Zirconia: This type is stronger than high translucent zirconia, as the name implies. It can better tolerate chewing forces as well as the forces of bruxism. Solid zirconia often suits root canal treated teeth by giving poor teeth more protection. It is most appropriate for posterior/back teeth since it is invisible.

How should you look after your Zirconium Crowns?

Zirconium teeth hygiene is similar to natural teeth. You should implement the floss in your oral hygiene and super floss for toothless areas. You should also set semi-monthly appointments to anticipate complications and take the requisite precautions.

Is There an Upper Age Limit for This Procedure?

Patients who have experienced permanent teeth eruption at any age can get this treatment. However, the patients who underwent the procedure at ages up to 18 and 20; need to change the crowns periodically, as spaces between the teeth can form due to the jaw’s growth.