Porcelain crowns and bridges were, until recently, made of feldspathic porcelain. The crowns were fused to a metal base to provide additional strength. Recent advances in bonding technology have made it possible for all-porcelain crowns to serve, even for back teeth that bear the pressure of chewing. But new ceramic materials are emerging as well, and some of them, like zirconia, have properties that make them ideal for crowns and bridges. The photos to the right show a dental patient’s smile before and after she received zirconia crowns.
What Are Zirconia Crowns?
Zirconia is a type of ceramic that is so strong, it has applications in aerospace, biomedical, and other high-tech industries. Nicknamed ceramic steel, zirconia can be milled very thin. It is also highly biocompatible, virtually eliminating the risk of allergic reactions. As you can see in the photo to the left, it can mimic the beautiful translucency of natural teeth.
Dr. Dang’s Zirconia Crowns and Bridges
Dr. Dang chooses to work with zirconia for crowns because it is also strong enough to support a bridge. With a bridge, the teeth on either side of a missing tooth are prepared for crowns, and a prosthetic tooth is suspended between them. It takes an enormous dedication to post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry to be comfortable recommending zirconia crowns. In addition to learning the use of sophisticated bonding technology, color manipulation is an area for rigorous study. It takes an artist to see exactly how the color of the underlying tooth structure should influence the final product.
If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for zirconia crowns or bridges, please call our office at (480) 994-1266 or fill out our request an appointment form.