Zirconia Crown

What Is Zirconia?

Zirconia is one of the newer dental materials introduced over the last few decades. It is a form of ceramic, specifically zirconium oxide, and is stronger than some metal alloys and much stronger than porcelain.

A zirconia crown may be monolithic or layered. A monolithic zirconia crown is created in the finished form of the tooth, so it only needs characterizing, staining, and polishing. A layered zirconia crown has a zirconia substructure covered with porcelain specifically designed to bond to zirconia.

Achieve a Radiant Smile with Durable Zirconia Crowns

Your teeth can shine as bright as diamonds with a little help from your Hutchinson Metro Dental family cosmetic dentist, thanks to zirconia crowns. While they’re not exactly like the stones you find in jewelry stores, zirconia dental crowns give you a smile makeover that restores your confidence while improving your oral health.

Crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that are placed, either temporarily or permanently, with dental cement over a tooth damaged by infection, decay, chips, cracks, breaks, discoloration or wear-and-tear.

Some of the issues crowns address include:

• The shape of a tooth
• The appearance or color of a tooth
• Tooth alignment and bite
• The gap between teeth

As Natural as Real Teeth

Dental prosthetics have been used since 200 AD. Since then, crown materials have evolved dramatically. Crowns vary, depending on the material used to make the crown.

Dr. Victoria Kushensky — a family cosmetic implant dentist in Bronx, NY who serves all of central NY — places different types of crowns, including:

• Zirconia crowns
• eMax crowns
• BruxZir crowns
• Metal crowns
• Porcelain crowns

Dental zirconia is made from zirconium oxide or powdered zirconium. It’s just as durable, yet easier to mold. And your Bronx, NY dentist can closely match the material to your natural tooth color.

Like Porcelain, But Better

Zirconia is the newest choice for dental crowns. It has more benefits than metal, resin, ceramic or porcelain. The strength and aesthetic features of zirconia dental crowns make it on par with or better than eMax crowns, which are porcelain-based.

There are fewer zirconia crown problems than eMax crown problems. Central NY dentists find that zirconia dental crowns have more advantages too, such as biocompatibility, meaning they don’t cause any adverse reactions.

Other benefits of zirconia crowns include:

• The best match to existing teeth color
• Requiring less tooth preparation
• Capability to be layered with porcelain
• Working well with bonding or cement
• Milled and shaped right in your dentist’s office

More Options with Zirconia Dental Crowns

Zirconia dental crown technology is constantly being improved, but Bronx dentists already prefer it, provided you’re a good candidate.

Dr. Victoria Kushensky of Hutchinson Metro Dental in Bronx, NY may recommend a type of dental implant, for example, if you:

• Have metal sensitivities
• Grind your teeth
• Need multiple tooth restorations
• Already have gold crown replacements
• Are getting partial restorations or veneers

These cases don’t bar you from getting dental restorations. There are plenty of options with eMax crowns or BruxZir crowns, if you grind your teeth. BruxZir crown prep is similar to zirconia crown preparation and you’ll find very few eMax crown disadvantages. It all depends what’s best for you.

The Dental Technology You Need

The process starts at your family dentist in Bronx, NY at Hutchinson Metro Dental in Bronx, NY. Whether you need a single tooth dental implant, a prosthesis or another cosmetic or restorative dentistry procedure, your family cosmetic implant dentist in Bronx recommends the next steps.

No matter which crown you get, the initial steps are the same. Dr. Victoria Kushensky takes an impression of your teeth and sends it to a lab, where a technician makes a mold. This mold is then cut into sections and scanned with laser. This scan is uploaded into a computer and using computer aided design software, the computer designs the crown.

This design is sent to a milling or grinding machine, which then creates your unique crown. Color is added based on your natural teeth color, and then the crown is baked to harden it. A technician then textures, smooths and glazes the zirconia dental crown to make it look as real as possible. This is done at the dental office or lab, and your individualized crown is then ready to use.

Back at the Office

Meanwhile, your Bronx, NY cosmetic dentist reshapes and reduces the tooth that will be capped. Until your permanent crown is ready, you get a temporary crown. On a subsequent visit, Dr. Victoria Kushensky removes the temporary crown and then fits and adjusts the zirconia dental crown, as necessary. The crown is fixed in place with dental cement. The entire process takes very little time.

Don’t let dental problems hide your smile. Your family cosmetic implant dentist in Bronx, NY can give you a bright, healthy smile and help you take care of it. Your new smile can last a lifetime. Contact Hutchinson Metro Dental today to learn more about zirconia crowns.