Are Zirconia Dental Crowns The Best?

Zirconia is a popular choice for dental crowns, and it’s been used medically for over 50 years. What are Zirconia crowns, and what makes them better than other crowns? Do they have any disadvantages to consider? Let's take a look!

What Are Zirconia Dental Crowns?

Zirconia crowns are made from Zirconium dioxide, a white powdered ceramic material. Zirconia is mined in Australia and South Africa, where it's found in a coarse sand state before being milled into powder.

Dentists choose zirconia for several reasons. First, it comes in a block, making it easy and cost-effective for dentists to make crowns from it. The material is also biocompatible, so humans do not react negatively to having it in their mouths. It also binds very well.

The word ceramic may bring about images of cracking coffee cups, but zirconia isn't like ceramic dinnerware. In fact, it’s so strong, dentists can make far thinner dental crowns than those made with other materials, so your dentist only has to remove minimal healthy tooth tissue to apply it.

Zirconia is naturally white, making it easy to match your teeth color. When completed, most will not be able to see it even if they look for it.

Zirconia Crowns: 6 Benefits

Looking more into the benefits of zirconia crowns reveals why so many dentists recommend them:

1. They're Metal-Free

That's why they are biocompatible. The human body does not like having metal inside it, aside from the trace elements required for body function. The lack of metal makes the coloring easier to match your current teeth. You probably prefer not to have noticeable silver or gold in your mouth.

2. Looks Great As They Age

It happens to all of us. We get older. As years pass and gums recede as you age, you won’t need to worry about the gray line commonly seen with porcelain-fused to metal crowns. Zirconia maintains its appearance for the decades you'll likely have it.

3. Strength Where You Need It

As we mentioned, it's strong. That's great for back molars that take the most force when we bite. While it's not impossible, Zirconia crowns can stand up to active chewing without that worry of "losing a crown".

4. They Do Require Preventive Care

You can look at this as a disadvantage or a motivator to keep your regular dentist appointments, which are vital for overall health. With proper preventive care, zirconia crowns can last for decades. This includes your:

• Periodic exams, cleanings
• Any preventative periodontal treatments you may need to keep the gums and teeth healthy
• Fluoride treatment (optional)

5. Natural Looking Smiles

Zirconia might not be the first material that comes to mind for you, but zirconia is one of the best options for creating natural-appearing smiles thanks to its naturally white appearance, which we can easily adjust to match your teeth. You can also use it in combination with teeth whitening or Invisalign Teeth Straighteners to further enhance your smile.

6. You Can Depend on Them

It’s dependable and long-lasting. Because it maintains as much natural teeth structure as possible, you're preserving the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw for years to come.

Removing too much tooth for any dental procedure can cause problems down the road as you progressively have less healthy material to work with. You eventually start losing whole teeth and some of the jawbone that holds them. This is, however, less likely when a procedure keeps more of your healthy tooth in place as zirconia does.

Are Zirconia Crowns a Good Fit For You?

Would you like to learn more about zirconia crowns and whether they might be a good fit for you? Make an appointment now at a time that works for you, or contact us if you have more questions before you schedule.