A dental crown is a popular temporary tooth restoration
treatment. It covers severe decay, bad discoloration, and
fractures on natural dental pieces. There are many materials
available for corrective dental procedures. The most common
are metals, porcelain, resin, and ceramics. Zirconia is growing in
popularity due to its many confirmed perks.
Reasons to Get a Zirconia Crown
Several factors can make your teeth wear down or break. Tooth
decay, injuries, and natural aging are among the leading causes
of tooth damage. Grinding your teeth, a crossbite, and chewing
on hard objects might cause your teeth to lose their shape or
reduce in size. Getting a zirconia crown won't help grow your
natural tooth back to health, but it'll prevent further decay and
improve the affected tooth's appearance. Your dentist may use
a dental crown to fix many oral problems. The most common
are:
● Preventing fractures on a weak tooth
● Keeping a tooth together when it's in bad shape
● Improving the look of your smile
● Restoring a broken or worn-down tooth
● Improving your bite
● Covering large fillings, dental implants, and root canals
● Capping mishappen or discolored teeth
Durability of Zirconia
Zirconia is a newer material for dental restorative
treatments. It's a type of ceramic — or, in more
specific terms, a zirconium oxide — that's stronger
than porcelain and some metal alloys, and it gets
fewer sharp edges from the normal "wear and tear"
that happens over time. Zirconia crowns tend to
cause less stress and damage on opposing pieces
than their porcelain counterparts. The latter might
act like sandpaper when rubbing against your other
teeth and causing enamel erosion. That's one of the
many reasons dentists might recommend you to
consider zirconia for your dental procedures.
Types of Zirconia Used on Crown
From all the ceramic variations available to date, dentists
seem to have two favorites. They often prefer using
framework zirconia and full-contour zirconia for dental
work. Both options are viable alternatives to using
porcelain-metal composites and full-metal blends.
Framework zirconia is best for anterior and posterior
multi-unit bridges. By masking this versatile material
with porcelain or glass, it can look almost like a natural
tooth. Full-contour zirconia works better as a monolithic
restoration.
Benefits of Getting a Zirconia Crown
Zirconia is the most durable monolithic ceramic, which is
a ceramic made without added materials. When
comparing it to glass ceramics and dental composite,
zirconia is more split-resistant, stiffer, and stronger.
These properties hinder cracking and chipping, both on
the surrounding teeth and the one underneath the crown.
Zirconia has a better shielding capacity that can take
higher loads without compromising the integrity of your
smile.
How Long Will a Zirconia Crown Last?
Most dental crowns last between five and fifteen years
when treated with care. Their longevity will depend on
your oral hygiene, among other personal habits. For
example, if you grind your teeth in your sleep, you
might need a replacement faster than someone who
doesn't. Other practices that will reduce your zirconia
crown's life expectancy include:
● Chewing ice
● Opening packages with your teeth
● Biting your nails
● Bad hygiene
Maintain a Healthy Smile
Innovation in restorative dental treatment materials
allows for much more efficient procedures with longerlasting results. When applied the right way, a zirconia
crown can improve your overall oral health in a
heartbeat. These common dentistry elements will keep
your teeth in top shape and make you feel more
confident in the process.
Much like any other material, zirconia has its advantages
and disadvantages. Check with your dentist if a zirconia
crown will work for you. To lower the chances of needing
restorative dental procedures, take care of your smile by
brushing your pearly whites at least twice a day.