When a tooth is significantly damaged by decay, a fracture, or a root canal, a simple filling is often insufficient to restore it. In these cases, a dental crown (often called a “cap”) is the necessary solution. A crown covers the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance.
However, once you know you need a crown, you face a critical decision: which material should you use?
For decades, the standard choice was Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM). While functional, dentistry has evolved. Today, Zirconia has emerged as the frontrunner in restorative dentistry, offering a blend of durability and beauty that traditional materials simply cannot match.
At Gold City Dental, we believe in using materials that mimic nature in both biology and mechanics. In this guide, we break down the differences between Zirconia and traditional crowns to help you understand why modern materials are the superior choice for your long-term health.
The Old Guard: Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)
To understand the benefits of Zirconia, we must first look at what it is replacing. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns have been used for over 50 years. As the name suggests, they consist of a metal shell (base) covered by a layer of porcelain.
While PFM crowns are strong, they come with significant aesthetic and functional drawbacks:
- The “Black Line” Effect: Because metal is beneath the porcelain, PFM crowns appear opaque. Over time, if your gums recede even slightly, the metal edge of the crown becomes visible, creating a dark, unsightly line at the gum level.
- The “Flat” Look: To hide the dark metal, the porcelain must be opaque. This prevents light from passing through the tooth, making it look dull and chalky compared to the natural translucency of real enamel.
- Chipping: The bond between the porcelain and the metal can fail under pressure, causing the porcelain to chip and expose the metal beneath.
The Modern Solution: What is Zirconia?
Zirconia (Zirconium Dioxide) is a white, powdered metal oxide. It is a ceramic material, but it possesses the strength of metal. In fact, in the engineering world, it is often referred to as “ceramic steel” for its exceptional resistance to cracking and wear.
At Gold City Dental, we utilise Zirconia for the majority of our restorations because it solves the problems inherent in PFM crowns while adding new benefits.
The Gold City Comparison: Why We Prefer Zirconia
1. Superior Aesthetics (Translucency)
The most immediate difference is visual. Zirconia is naturally white. Unlike PFM, it does not need a metal core to provide strength. This means light can pass through the crown much like it does through a natural tooth. At Gold City Dental, we use High-Translucency Zirconia. This material blends seamlessly with your adjacent teeth. Even if your gums recede in the future, there will never be a black metal line to ruin your smile.
2. Unmatched Durability
Our jaws exert a tremendous amount of force when we chew—sometimes up to 200 pounds of pressure. Restorations need to be tough. Zirconia is significantly stronger than all-porcelain crowns and much more resistant to chipping than PFM crowns. This makes Zirconia an ideal “integrated” solution: it is beautiful enough for front teeth but strong enough for the back molars that do the heavy grinding.
3. Biocompatibility and Tissue Health
This is a crucial factor often overlooked by patients. Zirconia is highly biocompatible, meaning the human body accepts it readily. It rarely causes allergic reactions. More importantly, gum tissue loves Zirconia. Because the surface is incredibly smooth and plaque-resistant, gums tend to grow back around Zirconia crowns healthier and pinker than they do around metal crowns. This reduces the risk of gum inflammation and contributes to the longevity of the restoration.
4. Conservation of Tooth Structure
Because Zirconia is so strong, we can make the crowns thinner than traditional PFM crowns. This means we don’t have to grind down as much of your natural tooth structure to fit the crown. At Gold City Dental, our philosophy is always minimally invasive; preserving your natural tooth is our top priority.
The Role of CAD/CAM Technology
The superiority of Zirconia isn’t just about the material itself; it’s about how it is processed. Zirconia crowns are milled from a single block of crystal using CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing) technology.
At Gold City Dental, we don’t rely on manual casting methods, which can introduce human error.
- We take a digital scan of your mouth (no messy impression goop).
- We design the crown on a computer with micron-level precision.
- Our milling machines carve the crown from a Zirconia block.
This process results in a marginal fit that is far superior to traditional crowns. A better fit means no gaps for bacteria to sneak in, preventing decay from forming under the crown later.
Are There Any Downsides?
In the past, the main criticism of Zirconia was that it was too white or opaque. However, material science has advanced rapidly. The modern Layered Zirconia we use at Gold City Dental features colour gradients that mimic the natural darkening towards the gum and transparency at the tip, making them indistinguishable from natural teeth.
A Smart Investment for the Future
When choosing a crown, you are choosing a body part that needs to function 24/7 for decades. While PFM crowns served dentistry well in the past, Zirconia represents the future.
By choosing Zirconia, you are opting for a restoration that is:
- Stronger (resistant to fracture).
- More Beautiful (no dark lines, natural light reflection).
- Healthier (biocompatible and precise).
At Gold City Dental, we are committed to using only the highest-grade materials because we believe our patients deserve results that last. We don’t just fix teeth; we restore them to their original strength and beauty.
Do you have an old crown with a dark line? Or do you have a damaged tooth that needs protection? Contact us today to discuss upgrading your smile with Zirconia’s advanced technology.
