Zirconium Versus Porcelain: Benefits of Zirconium Crowns and Bridges

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.