What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns Made from Zirconia

Dentistry is one of the branches of medical science that dates back to several centuries. The first evidence of dentistry was found in the Neolithic graves in the Indian Subcontinent which can be as old as 6500 years from now. The technologies and tools that are now used in dentistry have advanced so much over the years to add detailing, convenience and precision to the art of dentistry. Dental Crowns are probably one of most important innovations made by mankind to address most of the issues when it comes to dental problems. A Dental crown is the answer to most dental issues such as

• Broken Tooth
• Fractured Tooth
• Misshapen Tooth
• Decayed Tooth
• Mismatched Tooth
• Cracked/Chipped Tooth etc

A Dental crown is practically the solution for most dental problems. It sits right on top of the original tooth just like a crown and hence the name dental crown. A Dental crown can cover up many of the above stated issues provided the original tooth is cared for by removing the decayed part. Most dentists would scrape off all the decayed and rotten parts of the original tooth and scale the tooth down so that the teeth can now have a crown that makes the teeth complete. In case of a misshapen, broken or cracked tooth, the teeth is checked for strength and damage degree. After which it is scaled down and then replaced with a crown. These are one of the most versatile, flexible, all accommodating solutions to most dental issues and can be used by most patients without any issues. Even for those who have sensitivity to certain material used to make the dental crowns can choose from a variety of dental crown material such as stainless steel, ceramic, porcelain, zirconia, metal alloy etc.

Dental Crown Material

Dental crowns, as mentioned before, are made from a variety of materials based on various requirements. Each material used has its own pros and cons. Most of these materials were invented based on various requirements as more and more materials were researched upon to make suitable dental crowns. Below is a list of the most widely used dental crown material across the world:

1. Stainless Steel Crowns

Stainless steel crowns are the most ancient but one of the most successful types of dental crown material used worldwide. Mostly used for posterior restorations and mostly suited for kids - the stainless steel restorations have an obvious flaw - the colour and visibility of the material. Steel crowns are very sturdy, durable and versatile and can be extremely good when it comes to crowns for kids and for posterior teeth restorations in adults.

Their con includes metal sensitivity which can make patients who are metal sensitive to stay away from this material. The visibility of the crown is doubtless and this can make aesthetics a problem for patients. It is also most suited for posterior restorations only.

2. All Metal Crowns

All metal crowns include harder alloys such as gold, silver, titanium and palladium. These crowns are very expensive and they too, have a striking visibility issue. Most people who go in for these restorations use them as fancy anterior restoration as well for aesthetics. Apart from that, they have similar qualities as that of stainless steel crowns. Their pros are incredible longevity and durability. They are sturdy and can be extremely easy to contour and adjust for the patient.

Cons include striking visibility which sometimes is used by patients for aesthetics as well. They are also not suitable for those who have metal allergies.

3. All Porcelain, All Ceramic and Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns

Porcelain, Ceramic and Porcelain Fused to Metal crowns are some of the other commonly used types of restoration materials. All porcelain and all ceramic crowns have very good aesthetics as they come in teeth coloured material. They are also great for anterior restorations and have decent sturdity and durability. Porcelain Fused to Metal is more suited for those who are looking for durability and longevity, These have a teeth coloured exterior with a metal lining inside that makes the crowns strong from the inside. All 3 of the restorations have their own pros and cons.

4. Zirconia Crown

One of the most popular materials that is now used in dentistry is zirconia and the reasons are obvious. Zirconia Crowns are the modern day solution to most kinds of teeth restorations. Zirconia dental crowns are very sturdy, very durable and one of the most aesthetically pleasing materials to work with. Zirconia Ceramic crowns as they are sometimes referred to, have a ceramic like texture and appearance. They are made with Zirconium Dioxide blocks that arrive as such to labs. The crowns are carved from it using CAD/CAM technology making the crowns superior in terms of fittings and adjustments.

Zirconia Restorations - The Modern Day Marvel

The are have a set of characteristics that make them apt for most patients worldwide:

1. Aesthetics

One of the biggest pros for zirconia crowns is the aesthetics part of it. Zirconia has a translucent off white appearance which makes it quite similar to the human teeth in general. Individual colour blending is possible with zirconia based restorations and therefore can be colour matched with patients' unique enamel. This is one of the main reasons why anterior restorations can also be done with zirconia crowns

2. Durability

Zirconia is extremely sturdy and durable and with good maintenance can last upto 12 to 15 years in the patient’s mouth. This material is suitable for both anterior and posterior restorations but most importantly because of its sturdity and durability, it is suited for posterior restorations. In very minimal amount of original teeth needs to be removed and therefore, most of the original teeth can be preserved and hence adds to the sturdity of the overall tooth

3. Biocompatibility

Zirconia is a very stable element and is the most biocompatible material in dentistry, This means that there is barely any chance of allergies or reaction to the nature of this element in patients. Patients who have metal sensitivity and other reactions can safely opt for Zirconia dental crowns

4. Adjustments and Fittings

Zirconia crowns are made with CAD and CAM technologies and therefore they are very accurately done. They can be easily made into the shape and contours of the patient's crown size and therefore have very minimal adjustment at the time of fitting. They are also very easy to maintain and have minimal post restoration care

5. Pricing

Zirconia crown cost is quite affordable in most cases. It certainly is not the cheapest option given its unique, aesthetic, biocompatible and durable nature, but zirconia crown price is definitely worth the product that one gets. Cost of Zirconia Dental crown can range between a few thousand rupees for each crown apart from the other dental repair charges. Zirconia crowns cost may be slightly more than stainless steel and PFM crowns but they are certainly more easy to maintain with minimal maintenance post restoration. They are also very durable and therefore save money in the long run.

Conclusion

In an overall perspective, Zirconia dental crowns are one of the best options when a patient is looking for a long term solution with accurate fittings and aesthetics. The Zirconia crown cost ranges between a few thousand rupees or a few hundred dollars per restorations and some of the insurance companies do cover dental restorations. Zirconia crowns are aesthetic and can be used for anterior teeth restorations. Given its sturdity and durability they can also be used for posterior teeth restorations as well. The biocompatible nature of these crowns make them a patient favourite material in the dentistry world. What more? It is easy to care for and easy to maintain with a good overall life in the patient's mouth. They are custom designed using CAD/CAM technology and therefore are custom fit for each patient with minimal adjustment and fittings.

These are some of the qualities that make Zirconia Tooth crowns one of the most favoured dental crown material in the world.