Zirconia Crowns

You have options when you need to cover up a damaged tooth or save the base of a tooth that’s had the root nerves removed. A dental crown is the most common and effective choice. And the options of materials give you even more choices. Based on your history, budget and dental goals, zirconia may be the best solution for you. Crowns made of the durable, natural-looking material have come a long way to make crowns more acceptable and easier to obtain.

 

If you have decayed, damaged or discolored teeth, your Albany County dentist may suggest dental crowns as a possible solution. Dental crowns are made out of many different materials. One of the newest choices you may want to consider are those made with zirconia.

Zirconia is a metal in the titanium family, and it’s known for its durability. Zirconia crowns blend the natural look of porcelain or ceramic with the strength of metals that are used for dental crowns. Zirconia crowns have very little downside. And your cosmetic dentist works closely with you to find the most affordable solutions so that you can enjoy the benefits of a long-lasting crown when you need it.

Why Choose Zirconia Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, can be placed over a tooth to restore its shape and improve its appearance. There are several different materials to choose from when you need a dental crown, including porcelain or ceramic, metal alloys and resin.

Dental experts at Colgate.com report that zirconia crowns:

1. Can effectively be matched to the existing color of your teeth
2. Are strong enough to be used for the chewing and grinding function of back teeth
3. Require less tooth prep than other crown materials
4. Give your dentist the capability to shape or mill them in the office, saving you time and additional cost
5. May be layered with porcelain, which further improves their appearance
6. Are made of material that’s biocompatible, so they won’t cause adverse reactions when they’re implanted in your body
7. Give your dentist more options because they can either be cemented or bonded

Zirconia Crown Disadvantages

Although there are a lot of advantages to choosing zirconia crowns, there are also some disadvantages. This type of crown is closer in color to your teeth than one made of metal, but it’s also opaque. Because of this, it may be hard to match the exact shade of your front teeth, which are the teeth that are most noticeable in your mouth. BruxZir crowns may be the best brand to avoid this complication.

Other zirconia crown disadvantages include:

• It can be hard for your dentist to even out your bite because the material is so strong.
• These crowns can be abrasive and may speed up the wearing down of nearby teeth that are uncapped.

Zirconia Dental Crowns Placement

Traditional dental crowns usually require more than one visit for placement. At the first visit, your dentist files down the tooth to prepare for the crown, and takes an impression to be sent to a lab to create the crown. At the second visit, the dental crown is cemented in place.

The placement of zirconia dental crowns can be done the same way, but in some cases it’s possible to place these crowns in a single visit. Metal can be milled into the shape of a tooth right in the dentist’s office using a computerized cutting machine. At the same visit, it can be fitted and cemented.

Zirconia Crown Problems and Risks

Whenever you have any type of dental procedure, there is a small risk of problems or complications, such as:

• You may have an allergic reaction to medicine used to numb your tooth area.
• You may also have an allergic reaction to the material used in making the crown.
• If you didn’t have a root canal before the crown was placed, there’s a chance you could develop an abscess in the root, which would then need to be treated with a root canal.

Zirconia crowns are considered reliable but aren’t completely free of problems. Zirconia crown problems include a small chance of chipping or cracking, although this is less likely with this material than with porcelain crowns. Because of their durability, zirconia crowns may cause nearby teeth to wear down, or they may cause wear on the natural tooth underneath the crown.

Care for Zirconia Dental Crowns

Your crowns feel very similar to your other teeth. Taking care of them is done the same way as caring for your natural teeth. Brush and floss daily and be sure to continue visiting your family dentist at Albany County Dental Associates twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

Zirconia crowns usually last five to 15 years or longer. With good oral habits, they may even last a lifetime. They are a great choice for replacing decayed or damaged teeth.