How Long do Zirconia Crowns Last?
The dental crown is the fixed coating that covers the entire damaged tooth and protects the natural tooth, restoring its natural appearance. If the outer surface of the tooth is lost for various reasons or if the patient requires an aesthetic restoration, zirconium or porcelain crowns are made. If the tooth to be crowned has a lot of decay and the dental pulp is damaged, root canal treatment is necessary before crowning. A framework is needed to support the crown on the tooth to be crowned.
It is best to talk to your dentist about which material is right for you, but below, we have outlined some of the differences between the two most used materials: zirconia and porcelain.
Zirconium is obtained by adding yttrium oxide to the zirconium element. It has high pressure resistance and is hard. Since its thermal conductivity is low, it does not cause hot-cold sensitivity in the patient after treatment. It can be used in monolithic or translucent forms. Since only zirconia is used in monolithic form, a transparent appearance as in natural teeth is not expected. It is generally used on teeth exposed to chewing at the back of the mouth. If the patient has a problem with teeth grinding, the tooth with a monolithic crown can cause abrasions on the corresponding natural tooth, since the material is hard. In the translucent form, the lower part of the crown is covered with zirconium and the upper part is covered with fine porcelain.
The porcelain crown consists of a ceramic material with a metallic support structure. Structurally, it has a dull color and a matte texture and is far from the natural appearance of the tooth because it is thicker. Due to the metallic support, it creates a gray appearance on the gingiva due to reflection, especially in patients with thin gingival structure. Not suitable for people with metal allergies. It causes taste differences due to the metal. Since the thermal conduction of the metal is high, the possibility of damaging the pulp is greater, as the hot-cold sensitivity increases after treatment. Its service life is shorter than zirconium plating. In case of eventual fracture, it is possible to repair the porcelain crown, while the zirconium crown cannot be repaired.
In patients whose jaw development is complete, local anesthesia is applied and a grinding is carried out around the teeth. Then, CAD/CAM measurements are performed in a digital environment with intraoral scanning and the production phase of the appropriate crowns begins. Temporary crowns are placed while the crowns are being prepared.
During treatment, since the zirconium crown is thinner than the porcelain crown, fewer cuts are needed around the natural tooth to be bonded. There is no difference in the bonding processes carried out on the natural tooth or on the crown support.
If the patient has problems such as clenching, teeth grinding and gum disease, crowns can be damaged quickly. Zirconia crowns have a lifespan of 15-20 years, while porcelain crowns have a lifespan of 10-12 years. When using zirconium or porcelain crowns after treatment, attention should be paid to the food consumed. Maintenance and checks must be carried out periodically.
