A beautiful smile is one of the most important features of a person’s appearance. If you’ve been feeling self-conscious about your smile because of discolored, cracked, or chipped teeth, zirconia crowns may be the perfect solution for you. Zirconia crowns are a powerful tool for transforming your smile and restoring your confidence. They are strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, making them one of the most popular materials for crowns used in cosmetic dentistry. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of zirconia crowns and provide an overview of what you need to know before deciding if they are right for you.
What are zirconia crowns?
Zirconia crowns are a type of dental restoration that replaces a patient’s existing tooth. They are typically used to strengthen or restore a tooth’s structure and appearance. The zirconia crown procedure is a type of “inlays and onlays” where an inlay and onlay are used together to form a single restoration. Inlays are used to fill in a missing portion of the tooth’s structure and onlays are used to cover the rest of the tooth’s surface.
Different tooth shapes and sizes require different types of inlays and onlays. An experienced dental professional will create a custom, dental impression to determine the most appropriate type of zirconia crown for your teeth. Zirconia crowns can be made from either cast or fabricated zirconia crowns. Cast zirconia crowns are created by pouring zirconia liquid into a mold of your teeth, while fabricated zirconia crowns are made with a 3-D scan of your teeth.
Benefits of zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns are strong and durable, which means they will likely last as long as your teeth. This is a significant difference compared to other types of crowns, such as porcelain or gold crowns, which typically have shorter lifespans. The strength of zirconia crowns comes from its unique chemical composition. Zirconia is a crystalline ceramic composed of zirconium oxide that is highly resistant to wear and corrosion. It is also highly biocompatible, which means it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in the mouth.
This makes zirconia crowns a great option for patients with allergies or sensitivity. Another benefit of zirconia crowns is that they can be made in a wide range of colors and patterns to blend in with your natural teeth. This is especially helpful for patients with discolored teeth who are looking to improve their smile’s appearance.
Types of zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns can be made from either cast or fabricated zirconia crowns. Each type of zirconia crown has its own advantages and disadvantages. Cast zirconia crowns are less expensive and can be completed in less time than fabricated zirconia crowns, but they have a tendency to sag. This may require a crown repositioning procedure to fix the tooth. Fabricated zirconia crowns are more expensive and take more time to create, but they are less prone to sagging.
Advantages of zirconia crowns compared to other materials
Zirconia crowns are more affordable than gold crowns, making them a great option for patients on a limited budget. They also excel in other areas, such as strength and durability, making them a superior choice for many patients. Zirconia crowns are 10 times harder than porcelain and are more resistant to wear and tear. This makes them ideal for patients who grind their teeth or experience a lot of wear and tear in their mouth, such as athletes and those who have a high acid level in their saliva due to certain medications.
Patients who are smokers should also consider zirconia crowns because they are resistant to heat and chemicals found in cigarettes. Zirconia crowns aren’t just better than porcelain; they are also stronger than gold crowns. This makes them a great option for patients who are at risk of losing teeth and require a more durable restoration.
How to care for your zirconia crowns
Because zirconia crowns are biocompatible, they don’t require any special care. All you need to do is maintain good oral hygiene like flossing and brushing to keep your new crowns looking bright and beautiful. Be careful not to bite down too hard on your new teeth, particularly if you’ve had a tooth replaced, as this could cause damage to the new crown. If you notice sensitivity or mild pain, you should contact your dentist.
The Procedure for getting your zirconia crown
Like all dental procedures, the zirconia crown procedure has its own set of instructions that patients should follow.
- First, you’ll need to get an oral exam at your dentist’s office. Your dentist will inspect your teeth and determine if zirconia crowns are right for you and if your teeth are healthy enough to support them.
- If everything checks out, then you will likely get your first zirconia crown during that appointment. Your dentist will place a provisional zirconia crown on your tooth to protect it while the restorative process is underway.
- Next, you’ll undergo a dental impression process to create a custom, 3-D model of your teeth. A dental technician will fit your teeth with a soft material, such as a putty-like substance, and then carefully take an impression of your teeth.
- Once the model is complete, your dentist will review the data to determine the best type of zirconia crown for your teeth.
Signs that you may need a zirconia crown
If you’ve lost tooth structure, you may need a crown. However, there are times when a dentist will recommend a zirconia crown over a traditional root canal treatment. Patients with an advanced stage of gum disease and pockets between their teeth and gums (periodontal pockets >5mm) often have gum tissue and bone loss. This means less structural support for the teeth, which can lead to tooth loss.
Zirconia crowns are often recommended in these situations because they provide structural support that helps prevent further tooth loss. If your dentist recommends a zirconia crown, it’s important to know that the decision is the best choice for your dental health. With a zirconia crown, you won’t have to worry about the potential complications of a root canal treatment, such as dry mouth and trouble eating certain foods.
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