Vad är Zirconia?

Zirconium dioxide, also referred to as zirconia, is a crystalline oxide of zirconium found most naturally as baddeleyite with monoclinic crystal structures.

As it boasts low thermal conductivity, ceramic coatings find use in applications such as solid oxide fuel cells, ceramic deoxidizers, civil flash fireworks, optical lenses, refractory materials and abrasives.

Vad är Zirconia?

Zirconia is an advanced ceramic material composed of zirconium oxide – a mineral with highly strong, yet corrosion-free properties – making it the ideal material for dental restorations and restorations. Zirconia stands out due to its natural tooth-like color and translucency that help it blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth. In fact, zirconia dental implants may even be suitable for patients allergic to metal implants like titanium. Furthermore, Zirconia resists plaque formation more effectively for easier oral hygiene care.

Zirconium is an advanced ceramic material with numerous industrial applications, such as in telecommunications, optics, nuclear reactors and aerospace. Medical and dental applications also make use of it due to its hardness, wear resistance, stability and biocompatibility properties. Zirconia is the most commonly used dental ceramic due to having similar properties to titanium but without interfering with bone forming cells essential for implant osseointegration processes.

Zirconia restorations in dentistry are typically manufactured using CAD/CAM technology to mill solid or monolithic medical-grade zirconia blocks with full contours that have high flexural strength, providing an efficient digital workflow and reduced dental sessions needed for precise fitment. Furthermore, this method does not experience structural shrinkage after being machined like traditional titanium PFM restorations do.

Layered zirconia restorations combine the benefits of monolithic zirconia blocks with custom shading, characterization, and translucency possible with porcelain overlays for maximum flexibility in terms of shading, characterisation and translucency. However, this method adds time and cost to workflow but still produces high flexural strength zirconia restorations comparable to PFM restorations.

Zirconia can be sandblasted prior to porcelain veneering or resin bonding to improve mechanical interlocking and reduce risk of monoclinic phase transformation. Primer or liner agents may be added to enhance wetting and bonding properties of zirconia for increased mechanical interlocking as well as longevity for dental implant restorations. This can improve mechanical properties as well as prolong dental implant lifespan.

Why is Zirconia Used in Dentistry?

Zirconia has quickly become a go-to choice for dental prosthetic manufacturing due to its many benefits. It’s extremely strong and long-term durable; and its biocompatibility ensures no adverse side effects or irritation for patients like titanium implants do. Furthermore, their white colour makes zirconia implants attractive aesthetically.

Zirconia used for crowns is usually manufactured into full-contour solid blocks using CAD/CAM technology and then milled. Once milled, these solid blocks serve as bases for custom restorations with their 1,100-1,200 MPa flexural strength surpassing that of porcelain-fused-to-zirconia restorations.

Monolithic zirconia offers several advantages during fabrication. Not only is it faster and simpler, but its superior flexural strength of around 200 MPa also make it safer than layered options. On the other hand, layered options can also be great choices if you require very thin restorations with specific cosmetic requirements or just prefer their aesthetic appearance.

Layered zirconia restorations are frequently employed in veneered dental implant restorations. This material features a porcelain coating on a core of zirconia that allows dentists to achieve custom shading, characterization and translucency for desired esthetic results. However, one downside of using such veneering material may include its tendency to chip off over time requiring replacement by your dental provider.

Zirconia crowns are both durable and corrosion-resistant, making them the ideal material for those with high bite forces, clenching/grinding issues or who grind their teeth repeatedly, all of which could easily compromise traditional porcelain crowns.

Zirconia stands out as an attractive option because it’s non-corrosive and completely inert, which means it will not irritate or cause side-effects for patients. Furthermore, its antibacterial qualities help keep plaque buildup under control compared to metal crowns which often suffer from plaque buildup and infection issues. Although zirconia doesn’t boast as strong fracture resistance as titanium crowns do – making it less suitable for active lifestyles or sports players; nonetheless it still demonstrates impressive longevity considering cost and esthetic qualities compared to metal crowns made out of metal crowns alone.

What are the Benefits of Zirconia Crowns?

Zirconia crowns are highly aesthetic, closely matching the color and appearance of natural teeth for a truly aesthetic result. This makes them an excellent option when visible teeth need restoration. Zirconia also boasts higher strength than traditional dental porcelain, leading to longer-term durable crowns less likely to chip or break.

zirconia’s metal-free composition also helps prevent any damage to nearby natural teeth. While some patients may worry that its hard texture will wear down the soft enamel of nearby teeth, Dandy’s state-of-the-art CAD/CAM laboratories specialize in designing custom restorations with minimal tooth reduction utilizing computer-based workflows for precise fitments that reduce risk and improve patient outcomes.

Depending on a number of factors, including its location and function in the mouth, selecting a zirconia crown that’s ideal for any given tooth is ultimately dependent upon several considerations. Monolithic, or solid zirconia crowns are widely popular due to their more opaque color compared to other zirconia options and require less clearance clearance than alternative materials – perfect for posterior teeth with reduced clearance requirements as well as being highly durable – making them an excellent option when used on chewing teeth such as molars!

Layered zirconia crowns offer a more natural appearance than monolithic crowns due to their layered construction, allowing for greater color variation that better matches natural tooth colors and resisting chipping or breaking. Furthermore, this type of crown offers higher durability compared to its monolithic counterparts and is less prone to chipping or breaking than monolithic options.

Zirconia is biocompatible, meaning that it will not cause any adverse reactions in the body – this makes it an attractive option for patients with allergies or sensitivities to other dental materials. Zirconia crowns are resistant to wear and tear; however, to extend their longevity the dentist should advise patients how best to care for their zirconia restorations.

What is the Cost of Zirconia Crowns?

Zirconia stands out from glass ceramics and dental composites by being more split-resistant and stiffer, thus decreasing your risk of cracking or chipping either on your tooth itself or within its crown itself. Furthermore, its shielding capacity allows it to withstand more force without breaking your smile; making it a superior option over porcelain which may crack under heavier chewing forces.

Zirconia crown material can also be more visually appealing than many other options, blending in seamlessly with its surroundings and mimicking natural tooth colors to ensure that patients can maintain an improved appearance while protecting future damage to their teeth. However, zirconia may not be as resistant against large forces than alternative options like porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM).

Zirconia crowns may be more costly than other options due to being made from more costly material and offering additional features such as durability. Still, these crowns provide great value for the money and represent a viable alternative to gold or porcelain crowns.

Costs associated with zirconia crowns can depend on several factors, including type, location, and dentist. For instance, solid zirconia crowns tend to be more opaque and cost more than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

Zirconia crowns can be more challenging to repair or adjust than other crown materials, so selecting a dentist with experience working with this material is essential. Many dental offices use CEREC technology to design and create zirconia crowns in-office so they can complete this process during one visit and cement them immediately into place.

Zirconia crowns are an effective and safe solution to protecting and restoring damaged teeth, and are especially suited for people who suffer from metal allergies or sensitivities. If you are interested in this option, reach out to your dentist to learn more today!