Please note: We may not provide this treatment at our office. For the most current information, call us at (312) 212-3304 to learn more.
Comprehensive Guide to Zirconia Dental Crowns
Is a chipped, cracked, or worn-down tooth affecting your smile and your ability to enjoy Chicago’s deep-dish pizza? You’re not alone. Modern dentistry offers a powerful and aesthetically stunning solution: zirconia dental crowns.
Our Chicago, IL, cosmetic dentist, Dr. Bianca Clark, explores zirconia crowns, offering insights into this newer type of dental restoration. Call our Chicago dental office at (312) 212-3304 today to learn more. We proudly welcome patients from Chicago and all surrounding communities, such as Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Cicero, and Berwyn.
What Are Zirconia Crowns?
Zirconia dental crowns have become very popular due to their unique combination of strength and aesthetic appeal. They’re made from zirconium dioxide, an extremely strong ceramic, making them an excellent choice for both front and back teeth. These crowns are highly regarded for their durability and natural appearance, as the zirconia closely mimics the color and translucency of natural tooth enamel.
For Chicagoans with active lifestyles—from busy professionals on The L to athletes along the Lakefront—the durability of zirconia is a major advantage.
The Standout Benefits of Zirconia Dental Crowns
There are several benefits to choosing zirconia crowns. Some of the most notable advantages include:
- Unmatched Strength and Durability: Zirconia is one of the strongest dental materials available. It’s highly resistant to the wear and tear of chewing and is an excellent solution for patients who clench or grind their teeth (bruxism).
- A Beautiful, Natural Appearance: Modern monolithic zirconia and layered zirconia techniques create a more natural appearance. Your Chicago dentist can achieve a perfect color match with your surrounding teeth, making the crown virtually indistinguishable.
- Biocompatibility for Sensitive Patients: Are you one of the many people with metal sensitivities? Zirconia is biocompatible, meaning it’s hypoallergenic and has a very low risk of causing adverse reactions, making it a safe choice for your body.
- Precision Fit for Long-Term Health: Using advanced CAD/CAM technology, your zirconia dental crown is digitally designed and milled for a perfect fit. This precise fit helps protect the underlying tooth from tooth decay and promotes long-term oral health.
Considering the Drawbacks of Zirconia Crowns
While zirconia crowns have many advantages, it’s honest to consider potential disadvantages.
- Cost: The advanced technology and high-quality material can make zirconia crowns more expensive upfront than some other types of crowns. However, their longevity often makes them a cost-effective choice over time.
- Adjustment Difficulty: Their incredible strength means that adjusting a zirconia crown after it’s cemented is very difficult, so the initial fit must be perfect.
- A Note on Opposing Teeth: While modern zirconia is polished to be very smooth, its hardness can, in rare cases, cause more wear on the natural teeth that bite against it. Your dental professional will assess your bite to minimize this risk.
Zirconia Crown Process
Wondering what to expect? The process is straightforward and typically completed in two visits to your dentist’s office.
- Consultation and Preparation: Your Chicago dentist will examine the tooth, take X-rays, and discuss if a crown is the right treatment for you. If so, the tooth is gently reshaped to make room for the new crown.
- Digital Impressions and Temporary Crown: Gone are the messy putty impressions! We use digital scanners to create a perfect 3D model of your mouth. This data is used to design your custom crown. You’ll leave with a temporary crown to protect your prepared tooth.
- Crown Fabrication: Your design is sent to a dental lab, where your permanent crown is meticulously milled from a solid block of zirconia and stained to match your natural teeth.
- Final Placement: Once your crown is ready, you’ll return to have the temporary crown removed. Your dentist will check the fit, color, and bite before permanently cementing your new, strong, and beautiful zirconia restoration in place.
Zirconia Crowns vs. The Alternatives: Finding the Right Material
How do zirconia crowns stack up against other options like porcelain or gold crowns? Here’s a quick comparison to help you and your dentist decide on the best material for your smile.
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)
PFM crowns were once the standard for their strength. However, they have a dark metal line that can become visible at the gum line over time, compromising aesthetics. Zirconia crowns offer a more seamless, natural look without any metal.
All-Porcelain
Porcelain crowns are praised for their aesthetic qualities and ability to mimic the translucency of natural teeth. However, they are not as strong as zirconia and can be more prone to chipping, especially for patients with teeth-grinding habits.
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns are exceptionally durable and gentle on opposing teeth, but their metallic appearance makes them less desirable for visible areas. Zirconia provides comparable strength with a tooth-colored finish.
Zirconia Dental Crown Cost in Chicago
The cost of a zirconia dental crown can vary depending on several factors, but you can generally expect a range of $1,000 to $2,500 per crown in the Chicago area.
Factors that influence the cost include:
- The Dentist’s Expertise: An experienced cosmetic dentist in Chicago may have different fees.
- Laboratory Quality: The skill of the dental lab technicians impacts the final aesthetic qualities and fit.
- Case Complexity: Do you need a dental implant or a root canal before the crown? These additional procedures will affect the total cost.
- Dental Insurance: Many plans cover a portion of the cost of crowns. Our office team can help you understand your benefits.