The use of dental crowns in dentistry for enhancing the looks and feel of teeth in the mouth has been around for centuries. There are different types of crowns available, you can make your choice on the crowning material to use. Dentists carry out dental restorations with the use of crowns, these crowns can be made from gold, metals, porcelain or resin. For the purpose of this article, we are going to look at zirconia crowns.
Zirconia Crowns
In some cases where there is a need for aesthetic artificial teeth, most patients prefer choosing zirconia crowns for their dental restorations. The use of zirconia crowns in dentistry is gaining popularity due to the strength of the material and its ability to blend with the natural look of your existing teeth. Zirconium is a key component in these dental implants, providing durability and a tooth color that matches your natural teeth.
Zirconia is one of the newer versions of ceramic-like crowns, they are aesthetically pleasing and has the strength to withstand the forces of chewing. It’s a very strong substance that can withstand corrosion, wear and tear of everyday use. The zirconia crown is durable and quite similar to a natural tooth, it can be placed anywhere in the mouth.
However, most patients prefer having these crown placed only on their front teeth. Mostly, because of fear that the crown might not be strong enough. The truth here is that you don’t have to worry, zirconia clowns is suitable for front teeth as well as back teeth. It’s strong enough that it can withstand biting pressure and teeth grinding both at the front and back teeth.
A report from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health claimed that there are certain prons and cons associated with the use of zirconia crowns.
Since the new zirconia crowning materials for natural teeth is still undergoing continuous development for improvement, health risks involving ceramic and porcelain might be possible. As we move on through this article, you will get to learn more on some of the advantages and disadvantages of using zirconia dental crowns.
Advantages Of Zirconia Crowns
There are so many characteristics that makes zirconia a popular choice when it comes to crowning materials.(1) Here are some of the characteristics of zirconia crowns that makes them stand ahead from the regular and traditional crowns :
1. High strength: zirconia is extremely strong and can be bonded or cemented on any tooth with less tooth preparation than required for most other materials. The material is strong enough to endure wear and pressure from everyday use, whether on the back or front teeth.
2. Biocompatible: zirconia crowns are biocompatible, meaning that they do not pose to cause any health problem when it’s installed in the mouth. A zirconia crown will remain functional in the mouth, without causing any damage to the mouth tissues. It’s a good alternative for patients that are allergic to metallic crowns.
3. Aesthetic look: generally, zirconia is overly white, it can be customized to match the exact color of natural teeth. It’s usually recommended if you wish to crown your front teeth. The crown looks natural that it may be difficult for you to differentiate between a natural tooth and a zirconia crown.This is one of the main reason, why it’s a favourite crowning material for cosmetic purposes.
4. Resistant to corrosion: there are lots of crowning material available in the world of dentistry today. Most of these crowns tend to corrode after some few years of regular use. Zirconium crowns are known to provide the best service, when they are properly maintained. Unlike most other crowning material, zirconia do not undergo corrosion, it can last longer than 5 years.
5. Less installation procedure: processes involved in the placement of zirconia crown is much more lesser than in most other crowning materials. With the help of latest computer-aided design and manufacturing processes, it takes shorter time to produce a zirconia crown. The placement takes lesser tooth preparation and reshaping, reducing the chair-side time required for the restoration treatment.
Disadvantages of zirconia crowns
All the crowning materials have their unique disadvantages. A zirconia crown also has its own disadvantages, but they are minimal though. Zirconia is a tough material, it’s very strong that it can resist wear and pressure. Constant friction of these crown against the tooth root or uncapped opposite teeth can wear them down.
Zirconia crowns are so abrasive that they can accelerate the wear on an opposing uncapped tooth and tooth roots if they are not placed very well. (2)
Price of zirconia crown
There are certain factors that can affect the cost of zirconia crowns, such as the complexity of the treatment and the quality of the zirconium materials used. However, the cost can vary depending on the country where you live in, experience of the dentist carrying out the treatment, and the number of teeth to be crowned with porcelain or metal.
Unfortunately, all the appealing characters of zirconia crowns, such as it’s strength, durability, natural tooth looks and biocompatible properties, all come with a price tag.(4) Zirconia crown is very expensive in the United States and UK, it might be more economical to travel abroad for the treatment. Here is an estimated cost of a zirconia crown in some countries:
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United States – 1000$
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Uk – £600
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Mexico – $550
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Hungary – $450
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India – $200
Remember, these is only a rough estimate of the average price of a zirconia crown. The price might be higher especially if you have don’t have dental insurance. It’s possible for your dental insurance to cover full or partial costs of your crown, providing that the crown is medically necessary.