Porcelain Crowns

Zirconium

Zirconium is the substructure material of porcelain crowns. It is a material which promises both aesthetic and endurance as it resembles to natural tooth in terms of color, transparency and durability. Zirconium is a material which can be designed and manufactured in the color of tooth thanks to its light transmittance. Its convenience for tooth color makes this material one of the best resolution for smile aesthetics.

Advantages

Zirconium does not cause a darker color tone in gums as its luminous transmittance is better than metal based crowns have.

Zirconium is a good alternative for who are allergic to metal. It is more congenial with gums. These crowns are more advantageous in gum diseases.

It is much more enduring than full ceramic crowns and laminates. For this reason, it is not affected by colorants such as coffee, tea or cigarette. Its color remains the same.

Disadvantages

It is more expensive than metal based crowns.

It is not recommended in wide interdental gaps as this situation increases the possibility of fracturing at the rear of the mouth.

Full Porcelain Crowns – Emax Crowns

These are the most developed crowns in terms of aesthetics as it has strengthened porcelain in its substructure or it is fully made of strengthened porcelain as a block. In these crowns, there is not any metal or zirconium substructure. It can be applied to incisors in which aesthetics is important, in single aesthetic crowns, in bridge administrations which include one or two missing teeth or to materially deficient teeth when laminate appliance is not possible.

Advantages

It provides the closest aesthetics to natural tooth thanks to its luminous transmittance.

It does not cause grey discoloration in gums.

It causes less wear on teeth than zirconium and metal do.

It is not allergenic.

Its thermal conduction is very low.

Disadvantages

It can’t be used in the bridges which are exposed to a great amount of pressure as it is not that enduring.

It is costlier than metal based crowns.

Metal Based Porcelain Crowns

Metal based porcelain is a material in which some metal alloys produced for dentistry are used as a substructure for porcelain. These metals are standard metal alloys which are congenial with the tissues of gum and tooth and really enduring. Metal based porcelain crowns are the most common type of crowns in dentistry as they can be used in almost all cases. The expectation of the patient must be understood properly at the beginning of metal based porcelain crown treatment.

Advantages

Metal based porcelain is the most common and the most durable substructure material.

It is satisfying in terms of aesthetics if you display sensitivity enough.

Metal based porcelain is affordable.

Disadvantages

Its luminous transmittance is not as good as a natural tooth because of the metal in its substructure. For this reason, it is mediocre in terms of aesthetics when compared to zirconium and full porcelain.

It may cause grey discoloration in gums in time.

It cannot be applied in every cases.

Although it contains nickel free metals in its structure, it may cause allergic reactions rarely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crowns

Question: Which type of crowns can be applied to those who are allergic to metals?

Answer: Zirconium and Emax crowns are alternatives to metal based crowns.

Question: Do crowns cause discoloration later?

Answer: Zirconium, emax and laminate do not cause plaque accumulation thanks to their smooth and slippery surface. Therefore, they are not affected by colorants such as coffee or tea. Their color remains the same.

Question: Will I feel pain during the operations?

Answer: Cutting process is done under local anesthesia and then, a tooth colored crown is applied to prevent tingling in case of exposure to warm and cold. Only a few of the patients have the complaint of tingling. Generally, the process is completed without a trouble.

Question: How enduring is zirconium when compared to full ceramic crowns (emax and laminate) and metal based crowns?

Answer: Zirconium based crowns are as enduring as metal based crowns with recently used techniques. It is less fragile than porcelain. It is less elastic and more fragile than metal. This situation results in a better adaptation of porcelain to zirconium than its adaptation to metal. Eventually, it increases the rate of porcelain fractures drastically.

Question: Can crowns be applied to those who have gingival diseases?

Answer: Firstly, gingival diseases are treated. Crowns may be applied after the treatment. Metal based crowns are less congenial with gums. The other types of crowns are more advantageous when it comes to gum diseases. However, it might be proper to use metal based crowns in some cases as they are the most durable crowns.

Question: Do they cause bad breath or change of taste?

Answer: Zirconium and Emax crowns do not cause any change of taste or bad breath as they do not contain metal.

Question: What are the prices for crowns?

Answer: The expectation of the patient must be learned at the beginning of the treatment. The measurements must be taken meticulously and a rigorous work of technician is necessary. Oral hygiene must be given importance for the long term success of the treatment. The patient must see the dentists at least once a year regularly. A regular dentist check and scaling will extend the life of both teeth and dentures/crowns.