A dental crown is considered a restoration. Designed to completely surround a damaged tooth or dental implant, dental crowns are affixed to the remaining tooth structure or titanium post using dental cement. Over the years, a large variety of materials have been used for fabricating dental crowns. Some materials proved more successful than others, but improvements and innovations continue all the time. Dr. Hofkes in Cerritos, CA will tell you about one of your options: zirconia crowns.
The Benefits of Zirconia
Zirconia distinguishes itself as a dental material because of unprecedented strength. Obviously, this is a major benefit when considering a dental restoration. Your teeth weather plenty of wear and tear. When you go through a dental crown procedure, you want the restoration to last. Zirconia is made from an oxide of a metal. The look of zirconia gives the material an aesthetic look of being “metal-free” even if it technically is not. Once placed, a color-matched Zirconia crown is polished or glazed to give a natural, translucent, tooth-like appearance. The most cosmetically appealing method is to layer Zirconia with porcelain.
Disadvantages of Zirconia
When you need a crown, you’ll want to seek an experienced cosmetic dentist. Just because you are given a “zirconia crown” does not mean you’re guaranteed amazing results. Many dental labs have a vested interest in marketing monolithic zirconia crowns. These are bargains financially, easy to adhere to teeth, and quite strong. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, monolithic zirconia crowns have a very fake, dull look. They are difficult to remove if you change your mind or aren’t satisfied with the results. These particular crowns can also result in extreme wear on the opposite teeth, over time. Layered crowns have the benefit of both zirconia and porcelain for a strong and beautiful result. If you are scared to get a crown that you need, Dr. Hofkes can offer sedation options.
About Shawn Hofkes, DDS
As a trained professional in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Shawn Hofkes, DDS is certified to provide comfortable, safe dental surgery from our state-of-the-art dentist office in Cerritos, CA. Schedule an appointment for dry socket or tooth extraction treatment by calling: 562-584-4082 today!
