Zirconium oxide has been used in dentistry for a long time and is distinguished by its strength and compatibility with the natural environment. All this is confirmed by numerous clinical studies.
The benefits of wireframes
Zirconium oxide is used in the creation of many designs, so, in particular, frameworks based on it have amazing accuracy. All this is done through the use of modern medical technology. Products based on this material are durable, apparently no one will distinguish an artificial product from real teeth.
The zirconium oxide frame is lined with a special porcelain mass, which is of natural origin. All this makes the product just perfect compared to conventional ceramic-metal constructions used in dentistry.
Zirconia inlay, dentures, veneers and bridges - all of which are valued for durable and biocompatible material.
And also the frame based on this material is able to reduce the thickness of the walls of the crowns, respectively, the depth of processing of hard dental tissues also decreases. Thanks to this, support in the mouth can be saved, and the prosthesis can be made easier.
Features of non-metal ceramics
Zirconium oxide is used to create crowns to which aluminum is added. They are also called non-metal. In prosthetics, today they are quite widespread and are distinguished by their high strength. Their main feature is the lack of metal components and high aesthetics of the structure.
The metal-free crown on zirconium oxide and aluminum is the result of the introduction of modern high technologies in the field of dentistry. It is not only durable, biologically compatible with teeth, but also translucent. Outwardly, no one will think that this is just a crown, it looks so natural.
Creating a metal-free crown
Such ceramics are widely used in the manufacture of not only whole crowns, but also inlays and veneers. If the previously installed fillings have darkened or the old crown has changed color, then the zirconium oxide, which underlies it, will certainly help to renew them.
In the manufacture of the frame, the doctor takes a cast from the dentition of his patient, then a wax model is made on its basis. It is scanned and stored on a computer, so that later it can be created in three-dimensional form and designed taking into account future shrinkage. Then the frame is placed in a special milling machine, where it is machined on the basis of zirconium oxide.
Then the structure is sintered in the furnace, gaining strength. And finally, the frame is lined with ceramic mass. As a result, biocompatible crowns for teeth are obtained , zirconium oxide plays an important role in this characteristic.
Imitation
Zirconia prostheses in most cases are perceived positively by the human body. They are strong and reliable, there is no risk of rejection and infection.
Imitation of natural teeth is achieved due to the fact that the compound of zirconium oxide has a white tint. When installing a
ceramic -
metal crown, this cannot be obtained, since the frame of the structure will have a metallic color. And so that the metal does not shine through the
ceramics, the crowns are equipped with a special coating. As a result, such prostheses do not transmit light, and there is no color depth in them. The gum inside is not highlighted, as in its natural form, and the presence of a foreign body in the mouth becomes obvious.
The advantage of automatic manufacturing
Moreover, the metal-free crown is made by special technology, which is completely different from the manual casting of cermet products. All processes are carried out automatically.
The permissible gap between the prosthesis and the tooth itself can be from 100 to 300 microns. Through the latest technologies used to create products from zirconium oxide, it has been reduced to 30 microns. This means maximum precision in the joints between the teeth and the prosthesis.
Bridge making
Even such a specific type of prosthesis can be made without a metal frame. A bridge made of zirconium oxide can also be made, however, it will not be able to have a large length, as usual. Its frame, unlike metal, will be transparent.
In addition, zirconium oxide can be used during prosthetics on implants if the patient needs a high level of aesthetics. And, as mentioned earlier, it can be used to make any kind of prosthesis.
Outer side
One of the key benefits of zirconium oxide crowns is their natural appearance and attractiveness. If cermet prostheses always have a characteristic shade, then in this case it can be selected at the level of the frame to completely simulate the color of the patient’s teeth. Regardless of the type of lighting, the tooth will remain transparent. In addition, unlike metal, which tends to darken and deform over time, zirconium oxide will be the same for many years.
Also, many often complain of discoloration of the gums next to the ceramic-metal crowns. This happens because the frame of the structure negatively affects the tissues located next to it. Of course, the gums turn red or become cyanotic not in all cases, but often enough. Dentures using zirconia completely eliminate this phenomenon.
Compatibility
Zirconium oxide is good because it has a hypoallergenic property. Before this material was used in dentistry, it was often used in the manufacture of heads for hip prostheses to increase their strength.
Allergic manifestations in patients with the installation of
artificial teeth or inlays usually occur quite often. Moreover, such reactions may be present even when using noble types of metal (gold, platinum, palladium and others). For many allergy sufferers, zirconium oxide crowns or bridges are the only possible solution to clean your teeth.
Often there is a problem of tooth sensitivity. During prosthetics, such a phenomenon may interfere with the installation of everything necessary. So, when installing crowns without the use of metal, the sensitivity threshold noticeably changes for the better. All this is due to the fact that zirconium oxide is an excellent natural heat insulator and is able to protect teeth from temperature changes. If based on it to make a stump tab, the patient will not be susceptible to thermal irritation.
Other material benefits
Zirconium oxide is partially enriched with aluminum and is stabilized by yttrium, which subsequently makes products based on it strong and light. In addition, when microcracks appear on the surface, the surface structure self-heals at the molecular level.
Zirconium crowns are made not only on the front teeth, but also on the side.
This material, among other things, is considered the most ideal for fixing the height of the bite. It does not have porosity, unlike cermets, therefore, the abrasion of antagonists has lower rates.
And the fact that the anatomical crowns can be milled allows profile specialists to successfully apply them during prosthetics by means of counter crowns that fix the height of the bite.
The processing of hard dental tissues when installing non-metal prostheses is minimal. A zirconia-based tooth frame has a thickness of only 0.4 millimeters. Thanks to this, they can be sharpened to a minimum and even prosthetics of the living can be performed.
Disadvantages and contraindications
Like any other product used for dental purposes, zirconium oxide prostheses have their contraindications. Although in this case there are only two of them, which are not so common:
- bruxism;
- pronounced deep bite.
In other cases, you can install crowns, even if the patient brings a certificate of the presence of an allergy to some components of the prosthesis. It will not be related to non-metal ones.
As for the shortcomings of products based on zirconium oxide, they are practically nonexistent. However, the key and only one is their high cost. Such a price is formed not only due to the use of certain components, but also the complexity of the manufacture of the crown. Here, the technician must possess a high level of skill and be trained in a special technique at a high level.
If the patient does not have funds for an expensive product based on zirconium oxide, then he can be offered his budget option based on glass processing. Crowns that are stabilized with yttrium oxide are much more expensive.
As you can see, modern developments in the field of dentistry can significantly improve the lives of those who need dentures and do not tolerate them.