Restorative Dentistry
Zirconia Crowns in Los Angeles
Tooth-colored, and the toughest of them.
Back teeth take the force. Zirconia is the strongest tooth-colored material available, which is why Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry reaches for it on molars and on patients whose bite has already broken something.
Where it earns its place
Where zirconia earns its place
Back teeth take the force. The bite generates far more load across the molars than anywhere near the front of the mouth, and a crown material that is perfectly adequate on an incisor is being asked to do something quite different at the back — which is where zirconia comes in. It is the strongest tooth-colored material available, and that combination is the whole argument: before it existed, a crown in a heavy-load position generally meant accepting metal. It is not the most translucent option and it does not need to be, because the teeth it is chosen for are the ones nobody sees. Where appearance is the priority, another material usually is.
- Molars and premolars The chewing load at the back of the mouth is where crown material is genuinely tested.
- If you grind or clench Bruxism wears down enamel and can fracture teeth, fillings and crowns. A stronger crown lasts better under it — and a night guard is what stops the damage at source.
- Where a previous crown has failed If something broke, the replacement should be tougher than what it replaces.
- Still tooth-colored Which is the whole reason it displaced metal for these cases.
Against the alternatives
Zirconia against the alternatives
- Against all ceramic Stronger, marginally less translucent. On a molar nobody sees the difference; on a front tooth some people do. See all ceramic crowns.
- Against gold Comparable durability, and it looks like a tooth. Gold is gentler on the tooth it bites against. See gold crowns.
Fitting it
Consultation, preparation, digital impressions, placement — the process is the same whichever material you choose. See dental crowns.
Zirconia Crowns FAQ
- Why zirconia rather than ceramic?
- Strength. It is the toughest tooth-colored material available, which matters most on back teeth and for patients who grind.
- Does it look like a real tooth?
- Yes. It is slightly less translucent than all-ceramic, which is why ceramic is often preferred on a front tooth and zirconia at the back.
- I grind my teeth — is zirconia the answer?
- It stands up to it better than the alternatives, but the grinding itself still needs addressing. A custom night guard protects the crown and everything around it.
- Can zirconia be used at the front?
- It can, and sometimes should. Which material suits is decided tooth by tooth.
