Zirconium all-ceramic crown
To understand why the all-ceramic zirconium crown is one of the highest quality crowns, we need to take a quick look at the different types of dental crowns, how they are made and, of course, at their prices.
One of the most commonly used types of crowns is the metal-ceramic crown, whose durability is beyond doubt. The core is made of metal, which is covered with ceramic. Thanks to the metal, we get very durable teeth. However, there are three disadvantages worth mentioning.
One of them is the aesthetics, which is not perfect. The aesthetic aspect plays a lesser role when it comes to molars, as we rarely open our mouths wide enough for the person we are talking to to be able to thoroughly analyze the color and naturalness of our teeth, although this can no longer be said for the front teeth. Of course we can influence the color of the ceramic, but metal is not a translucent material and is therefore somewhat different from the color and shine of natural tooth enamel.
The second disadvantage is the meeting of the two different materials, because that is where the wear and tear becomes noticeable first. For example, if someone grinds their teeth, there is a good chance that the ceramic layer will detach from the metal frame after a while due to the strong friction. It doesn’t have to happen this way, but the risk is definitely there.
The third disadvantage to mention is directly related to the metal framework. If you want to avoid getting metal into your body, you should look for a different type of crown.
However, one should not ignore the major advantage of the metal-ceramic crown: it is the most cost-effective crown that can be manufactured, which can significantly reduce the total amount, especially when treating several teeth.
Let’s look at the available alternatives for those who want to avoid a metal-ceramic crown.
Moving up the ladder, the next thing we find is the zirconium crown. Zirconium is an extremely translucent material, crowns made of it are very similar to natural teeth.
Zirconium is also very resistant and can therefore be used very well to replace front teeth while improving aesthetics. In the hands of a good dentist and with the support of a good dental laboratory, it is actually possible to create beautiful teeth that are almost identical to the original teeth.
However, we can also mention a small disadvantage here that makes it worthwhile to look at other alternatives.
The zirconium crown consists of two parts: a zirconium framework and a zirconium veneer. The counter-argument that we also mentioned with the metal-ceramic crown also applies here, namely that the meeting of two materials is always a weak point. Here, too, when you grind your teeth, there is a high probability that the zirconium oxide cover will show signs of wear after a while or even break off from the framework.
We don’t want to discourage our readers, both metal-ceramic crowns and zirconium crowns work wonderfully, but the disadvantages mentioned cannot be ignored.
However, there is also a type of crown that does not have any of these disadvantages, and that is the zirconium all-ceramic crown with all of its good attributes.
We also call the zirconium all-ceramic crown a monolithic crown because the denture is made from a single block. As a result, it is the only risk-free solution, especially for patients who grind, as the non-existent veneer cannot come off.
Another advantage of the zirconium all-ceramic crown is that it does not cause an allergic reaction, is bio- and tissue-friendly and can be used well on patients with sensitive gums.
Another advantage is that all-ceramic crowns have been used more and more frequently in recent years and in an increasingly wider range, not only on front teeth but also in the back area, so that the price has fallen significantly.
At the FlyDent Clinic we work with Prettau zirconia.
How much does a zirconia all-ceramic crown cost?
The costs of the all-ceramic crown in the front area and in the back area are identical. At the FlyDent Clinic the cost per all-ceramic crown is €410.
In comparison, here are the costs of the other crowns:
- Metal ceramic crown: €260
- Zircon crown: €390
The advantages of the all-ceramic crown at a glance:
- best quality (monolithic crown)
- highest aesthetics (transparent)
- 100% metal-free and organic
- long-lasting (resistant)
- gentle on sensitive gums