Advantages of Zirconia Crowns
With the advances in materials for implant and restorative dentistry, we have certainly obtained new possibilities for oral and aesthetic rehabilitation with a translucent zirconia crown. Dental zirconia is being used more and more as a superior material for crowns on an implant, bridges, or over existing teeth.
The zirconia crown features high strength and resistance to breaking or cracking – up to 10x greater than common porcelains. Due to its great resistance, the zirconia crown can be indicated for cases of bruxism, aesthetic cases, or also just when you want to have a lasting result.
The qualities of dental zirconia
Conventional dental zirconia is opaque white, serving as a structural material for single tooth (coping) or larger prostheses. However, white dental zirconia is not aesthetic enough to make the final anatomy of the tooth in a single layer. It therefore requires a porcelain veneer applied with a brush (applied porcelain) to achieve the final shape and color of the tooth. It is a dental prosthesis composed of 2 materials and is the more traditional way of making a crown, as without the porcelain applied, the zirconia tooth does not have the proper shape and color.
But what is pure translucent zirconia?
Translucent zirconia is a material that is used for the preparation of prostheses, as well as white zirconia. However, it is a chemical variation of zirconia, which ends up having an appearance closer to a natural tooth due to its greater translucency.
The pearly effect that translucency brings to the zirconia tooth also makes the result more natural. Translucent zirconia does not need a structural layer because:
* It is already aesthetic and structural at the same time
* It is a pure dental prosthesis made from a single dental material
How is the pure zirconia crown made?
Translucent zirconia is also called cubic zirconia / monolithic zirconia, pure zirconia or in English cubic zirconia / translucent zirconia. It is a material executed by computerized means from digital molding to milling by robotic machines, as if they were 3D printers.
Pure monolithic zirconia crown
The term monolithic zirconia is also used for translucent pure zirconia crowns, a single stone or a single piece. In general, this modality of monolithic zirconia does not require the application of more materials.
But this is not a mandatory rule as sometimes small portions of porcelain are applied. What matters is creating the best possible visual effect. Monolithic crowns can also be made in other porcelains.
Advantages of pure and translucent zirconia
Among the main advantages of the translucent zirconia crown, we have:
* excellent aesthetics
* absence of metal- which is especially important if you have a metal allergy
* Very high resistance - up to 10x greater than common porcelain.
* high biocompatibility
* quick elaboration
* Low rate of complications
* Computerized design (accuracy and predictability)
* Prevents allergies in dentures
* Zirconia is also used in dental implant posts
Translucent zirconia is highly biocompatible with oral tissues. The high biocompatibility above all favors the healing of the gums. The strength of translucent zirconia is now similar to that of white structural zirconia.
