When choosing a dental crown, we recommend Zirconia Crowns

As a cost saving measure most dental plans will cover the most basic and least expensive restorative benefit regardless of what is best for the patient. We believe that the patient should be able to decide what is best for them. We recommend moving away from the metal based crowns and instead upgrading to a Zirconia based crown. We’ve outlined the benefits of Zirconia crowns below. Because insurance plans pay at different rates, please inquire what the upgrade cost will be with your plan.

 Zirconia Crowns:

1. Aesthetics:

   • Zirconia crowns offer superior aesthetics because they are made from a tooth-colored material that can be matched to the natural color of your teeth.

   • They are also less likely to show a dark line at the gum line, which can occur with PFM crowns as the metal underneath becomes visible over time.

2. Strength and Durability:

   • Zirconia is an exceptionally strong and durable material, making these crowns highly resistant to chipping and cracking.

   • They are ideal for back teeth or areas where high strength is required.

3. Biocompatibility:

   • Zirconia is biocompatible, meaning it is less likely to cause allergic reactions or irritation to the gums.

4. Less Tooth Removal:

   • Less tooth structure needs to be removed to accommodate a zirconia crown compared to PFM crowns.

5. Minimal Wear on Opposing Teeth:

   • Zirconia crowns cause less wear on opposing teeth compared to the porcelain in PFM crowns, which can be abrasive.

As per information provided by our dental lab Glidewell, PFM crowns have drastically gone down in popularity because of better materials, such as Zirconia and Porcelain Fused to Zirconia crowns.