Dentists have been making dental crowns for many years using different materials, including porcelain, gold, and resin. Today, you might get a zirconia crown. This material combines the strength of metals and the looks of porcelain. That’s why it is becoming more popular among patients and dentists.

A look at the background of zirconia crowns

Crowns have been used to restore teeth for centuries. Their purpose is to fill the gap of a missing cap of a tooth. That’s why these crowns are also known as caps. Not only do they protect your tooth structure, but they also help you retain the looks and function of your teeth.

Now too long ago, dentists all over the world started using cast gold alloys to create dental crowns. These crowns are strong enough to ensure a tremendous amount of pressure when you chew your foods. In case you are concerned about the appearance of your smile, you may want to consider having a porcelain-based crown, which resembles natural teeth in terms of color. This option is, however, more fragile as compared to metal-based dental crowns.

The option that you may want to consider if you are looking for the strength of metal and look of porcelain is to get a zirconia crown. The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health suggests that while zirconia crowns seem more promising compared to metal and porcelain crowns, they continuously undergo developmental procedures for further improvements.

What are the advantages of zirconia crowns?

Zirconia offers some distinct benefits over other types of crowns.

• These crowns match the natural teeth in terms of color.
• These are quite strong and reqresuire less tooth preparation.
• These can be used with porcelain to improve tooth appearance even further.
• Zirconia is a moldable material, which means that it can also be used for dental procedures other than dental crowning.
• Due to its biocompatibility, zirconia doesn’t have adverse effects on the tissues in your mouth.

Disadvantages of zirconia crowns

Zirconia has, however, a few disadvantages. Although this material resembles natural teeth in terms of color, it is quite opaque, which might estrange it among natural teeth. This material is so strong that it might become hard for your dentist to adjust it to your damaged tooth. It is also so abrasive that it can cause damage to a tooth that comes in contact with it when you chew your foods or clench your jaws.

Cost of zirconia crowns

The cost of a crown depends on several factors, including the material used, the difficulty involved, and several other factors. Some dentists charge the same fee regardless of the material being used. Due to the benefits it provides, zirconia tends to be a preferred choice of most of the patents.

Whether or not you may get a zirconia crown depends entirely on the level of damage or decay and your preferences. You may want to discuss these options with your dentist to know which option is going to suit you well. While zirconia is the best find in terms of material for dental restorations, your dentist may still want to make sure that you are the right candidate for it.