ZIRCONIUM CROWNS
What are zirconium crowns?
Zirconium crowns are dental crowns made from zirconium dioxide, a highly durable and strong ceramic material. These crowns are popular because they provide both strength and a natural appearance, making them ideal for restoring damaged or decayed teeth.
Why choose zirconium crowns over other types?
Zirconium crowns offer several advantages over other types of crowns:
Durability: Zirconium is incredibly strong, making it resistant to chipping or cracking. It can withstand the forces of chewing and grinding better than many other materials.
Aesthetics: Zirconium crowns can be custom-colored to match the surrounding teeth, providing a natural look. They are also more translucent, which gives them a more lifelike appearance compared to metal crowns.
Biocompatibility: Zirconium is highly biocompatible, meaning it’s less likely to cause allergic reactions or irritation to the gums and surrounding tissues.
Metal-Free: Unlike metal crowns, zirconium crowns are metal-free, which makes them ideal for patients with metal allergies or those who prefer non-metal dental treatments.
How is the zirconium crown procedure done?
The procedure for getting a zirconium crown usually involves several steps:
Consultation and Examination: Your dentist will assess the tooth that needs a crown and decide if a zirconium crown is the best option.
Tooth Preparation: The damaged tooth is reshaped to make room for the crown. This step may involve removing some of the tooth’s structure to ensure a perfect fit for the crown.
Impressions: A digital or physical impression of the reshaped tooth is taken and sent to a dental lab, where the custom zirconium crown is crafted.
Temporary Crown: A temporary crown is placed on the prepared tooth to protect it until the permanent zirconium crown is ready.
Crown Placement: Once the zirconium crown is ready, the temporary crown is removed, and the permanent one is bonded to your tooth using dental cement.
How long do zirconium crowns last?
Zirconium crowns are known for their durability and can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years or even longer with proper care. Factors like good oral hygiene, avoiding hard foods, and regular dental check-ups can help extend the life of the crown.
Are zirconium crowns suitable for all teeth?
Yes, zirconium crowns can be used on both front and back teeth. Their strength makes them perfect for molars that experience heavy chewing forces, and their aesthetic appeal makes them suitable for visible front teeth. Additionally, zirconium crowns can be used to support dental bridges or cover dental implants.
Do zirconium crowns look natural?
Yes, one of the main benefits of zirconium crowns is their natural appearance. They are tooth-colored and can be customized to match the exact shade of your surrounding teeth. Zirconium is also more translucent than some other materials, which gives it a more realistic, natural look, especially when light passes through it.
Are zirconium crowns stain-resistant?
Zirconium crowns are highly stain-resistant, unlike natural teeth or crowns made from other materials. This is because zirconium is non-porous, so it does not absorb pigments from food and drinks, helping the crown maintain its appearance over time.
How should I care for zirconium crowns?
Caring for zirconium crowns is similar to caring for your natural teeth:
Brush and floss daily: Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent plaque buildup and decay in the surrounding areas.
Avoid hard foods: While zirconium is strong, avoiding extremely hard foods (like ice or hard candies) can prevent unnecessary stress on the crown.
Regular dental check-ups: Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and to monitor the crown’s condition.
Are there any disadvantages to zirconium crowns?
Although zirconium crowns are highly durable and aesthetically pleasing, there are a few potential downsides:
Cost: Zirconium crowns tend to be more expensive than crowns made from other materials like metal or porcelain.
Tooth Preparation: In some cases, more of the natural tooth needs to be removed to fit the zirconium crown properly.
Color Matching: While zirconium crowns look natural, it can sometimes be challenging to achieve a perfect color match with adjacent teeth, especially if the surrounding teeth are not uniformly colored.
Total Treatment Time:
The entire process generally takes between 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the availability of the dental lab and any additional procedures required. However, if a dental clinic has in-house technology, the timeline can be shortened to as little as 1-2 days for the complete procedure.
Zirconium Crowns Treatment Timeline
The process of getting zirconium crowns typically involves several steps, and the total treatment time can vary based on the individual case. Below is a general outline of the treatment timeline:
1. Initial Consultation (1 Day)
Duration: 30-60 minutes
What Happens:
Your dentist will evaluate your dental health, take X-rays or scans, and discuss whether zirconium crowns are the right option for you.
A treatment plan is created, and the number of crowns needed is determined.
2. Tooth Preparation (1 Day)
Duration: 1-2 hours
What Happens:
During this visit, the dentist will reshape the tooth or teeth to make space for the zirconium crown.
A temporary crown is usually placed to protect the prepared tooth until the final crown is ready.
Impressions or digital scans of the tooth are taken and sent to the dental lab to create the custom zirconium crown.
3. Fabrication of Zirconium Crown (1-2 Weeks/It can be changed)
Duration: 1-2 weeks (depending on the dental lab and the complexity of the case)
What Happens:
During this period, the dental lab will fabricate your custom zirconium crown based on the impressions or scans.
Some dental clinics offer in-house labs with CAD/CAM technology that can create the crown on the same day or within a few days.
4. Final Crown Placement (1 Day)
Duration: 1 hour
What Happens:
Once the custom zirconium crown is ready, you’ll return to the dentist's office to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown cemented into place.
The dentist will make sure the fit is perfect, and adjustments may be made to ensure a comfortable bite.