Strength/Longevity
Zirconium crowns and bridges, because they can withstand the biting pressure of
the front teeth as well as the grinding of the back teeth, can be placed
anywhere in the mouth. Zirconium prosthetics are much stronger and longer
lasting than porcelain.
Aesthetics
The look of Zirconium crowns and bridges mimics that of
natural teeth so that it is hard to tell the difference. Looking at Zirconium crowned
teeth from an aesthetic point, their translucency and light reflection is similar
to that of natural teeth.
It is this quality which makes them very useable within
dental work. Zirconium crowns can be repaired using traditional dental cements
and additional crowns can be easily matched instead of having to replace all
crowns when you need one or two more. And so, Zirconium has quickly become the
preferred material for dental crowns.
Non-Toxic
The toxicity of amalgam/mercury restorations in the mouth has been
linked to such biological-compromising illnesses like: chronic fatigue, autism,
skin alterations, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and neuro-behavioural changes, along with a plethora of
allergic reactions. As a practice that promotes a holistic approach to dental
treatment, we feel very strongly about ridding the body of mercury restorations
and placing only mercury-free materials in patient’s mouths therefore reducing
the risk of such life-threatening diseases.
Zirconium VS.
Porcelain
Porcelain has been the conventional material used for
anterior crowns (crowns on front teeth). However, porcelain can easily chip or
break, which is why all-porcelain crowns are not used on molar teeth. If
porcelain is fabricated into a molar crown, it is lined with metal. A porcelain-fused-to-metal
crown will eventually become very aesthetically unappealing as gums tend to
naturally recede over time which will expose the metal rim of the crown at your
gum line. Have you ever seen someone that looks very “long in the tooth” with a
silver outline at the top of their tooth? This is the metal base of their crown
showing because the longevity of these types of restorations are unpredictable
General
Definition: A crown is a dental
restoration that completely covers or surrounds a tooth or dental implant and
it is typically fixed to the tooth using traditional dental cement. Crowns can
be made out of numerous materials, which are usually fabricated by a
professional dental laboratory, not in the actual dentist’s office. Crowns are
frequently used to improve strength or appearance of teeth.
Overview: The benefits of choosing to have
your crowns and bridges made from Zirconium will continue to be rewarding long
after the people who chose porcelain restorations have to have them replaced. Zirconium crowns won’t corrode from chipping and pressure
erosion like porcelain crowns can. The metal rim of a porcelain-fused-to-metal
crown being exposed is not a risk with Zirconium crowns because no metal is
necessary in the fabrication of or to strengthen an all-Zirconium crown. Also
the normal too hot/cold sensations you can feel with other crowns does not
normally occur with Zirconium restorations because Zirconium is not a strong
conductor of electricity.
