Learning about the new dental crown option – Zirconia!

Dental crowns or dental caps sit on a tooth or a dental implant. Dentists use them to reconstruct one or more missing teeth lost in an accident. Crowns also work best when placed on damaged, ill-fitting, reshaped, or decaying teeth. They can be equally secure as natural teeth. Dental crowns can provide broader coverage for implants and bridges, giving them additional protection from chips or stains. One of the common materials used in today’s dental crown market is ceramic. Traditionally, porcelain has been a popular option, but now the new high-strength filling materials like zirconia are getting all the attention. Zirconia stands for superior properties such as durability and strength.

Why should you consider opting for a zirconia crown over traditional materials?

Many factors can cause tooth decay or wear down your teeth faster than usual. It is common to experience tooth loss due to dental deterioration, accidents, or aging. If you grind your teeth, take a hard bite, or have a crossbite, your teeth can again lose their shape and quickly shrink over time. The best thing is to protect the existing damaged tooth, and dental crowns made of zirconia can be helpful in this area. Although dental crowns don’t help grow your original teeth, they can prevent them from any more damage while ensuring a beautiful smile. Your dentist can suggest this new option for various reasons:

  • Returning natural biting strength.
  • Covering root canals, dental implants, and broad filling.
  • Saving damage to a weak tooth.
  • Keeping unaligned teeth together.
  • Enhancing smile.
  • Protecting teeth from deterioration and decay.
  • Offering relief from poorly shaped or discolored teeth.

The ceramic-like zirconia crowns are ideal for people who want to keep their natural teeth as long as possible. These efficiently replace porcelain crowns used for dental restorations partly because of their strength, lack of sharp edges after use, and the fact that they don’t rub against your other teeth or cause enamel erosion. As much as 99% of dentists recommend this material today for dental crowns. Hence, it makes sense to explore the benefit of this material a little more.

Advantages of zirconia crowns

The most significant selling point of zirconia is its might and longevity. Think of how often you put your back teeth to use to chew food a day. Crowns must be sturdy to take that force and pressure, and zirconia would likely make a positive choice. Since it is also durable, dentists won’t have to do all that much prep work on your tooth, saving you time and resources. One of the studies mentioned that these crowns could work as well as metal crowns even after using for five years if you want to understand their durability. Besides that, the material has been safer for the patients in terms of the lower risk of reactions or inflammations. Hence, the rising preference for this material is not difficult to digest.

However, like anything else, this material also has a downside. One issue can be with finding the right color match for your teeth. Dentists have to use other material blends for a coating to help it look closer to your natural tooth color.

Zirconia dental crown installation

You can find help with a zirconia crown procedure near Huntington, NY. So you don’t need to bother about it. Your general dental practitioner will explain why you need a crown and why this specific material can be your best bet. They can also talk about its procedure. Still, having a prior understanding of this would allow you to focus more on your discussions with the dentist.

Generally, they apply a local anesthetic to numb the affected area. After numbing it, the dentist would remove bacteria from your teeth and gums using an ultrasonic instrument. The dentist would then take a mold of surrounding teeth and abutment after cleaning them. Temporarily, they can cover the tooth with a replacement crown until a laboratory or your dentist can create a zirconium crown custom-made for you. Once the zirconium crown is ready, they can install it on top of the two abutments, securing them so they’re strong enough to function correctly again.

Pricing consideration

Insurance companies usually provide 50% coverage for the dental crown treatment when performed for something other than cosmetic purposes. The total price for a tooth crown can vary depending on the material and accommodations needed during the procedure. Usually, porcelain crowns cost USD$ 800 and upwards to have crafted, and you can have a similar expectation with zirconia crowns, which can have the same or slightly higher price range. You can call your local dentist for adequate knowledge of the materials and their costs.

However, don’t forget that your dental wellness and well-being are more critical. You cannot allow the cost of treatment to dominate your decision when it involves something so vital as your teeth and gums. Any neglect or carelessness, in this case, can prove costly for your overall health also. Hence, you have to be a bit extra wary.

Maintenance of zirconia crown

Some experts believe that these can serve you from 5 to 15 years with proper care. Oral hygiene plays a critical role in this. For example, grinding your teeth can cause faster wear and tear to the crown and create a need for a replacement sooner than expected. Then, creating unnecessary pressure on your teeth or indulging in any unhygienic practice like nail-biting can also reduce their life expectancy. That’s why you must know what to do or avoid, ensuring proper maintenance.

The use of innovative materials is essential to the field of restorative dentistry. When installed correctly, a zirconia crown can provide excellent results for your oral health. However, some dental treatments may not be for all patients. Suppose you’re one of these people on the lookout for options within your area that provide great treatment options at affordable prices. In that case, you should look into local restorative dentistry offices for assistance. They can recommend the most suitable treatment for your dental health and instruct you on regular hygiene and maintenance.