If a tooth has damage that cannot be adequately repaired with treatments such as fillings, it may be possible to save the tooth using crowns. But not all crowns are created equal—there are significant differences between the available options, particularly in terms of the dental restoration material used. At our Bellevue dental practice in Zurich, we offer ceramic crowns, a type of dental restoration that combines a wide range of benefits.
Quality, Biocompatibility, and Aesthetics of Ceramic Crowns
If you decide to opt for a ceramic dental restoration when a crown is necessary, you are simultaneously choosing quality attributes such as high-grade materials, biocompatibility (tolerance), and aesthetics:
Since ceramic crowns (unlike crowns made from alternative materials) generally do not cause any adverse reactions, this type of dental restoration is even suitable for use by people with allergies. Furthermore, ceramic crowns pose no risk of interactions with existing dental restorations of different materials already present in the mouth.
The positive aesthetic qualities of this type of crown are particularly evident in the front teeth—due to its material and color properties, ceramic restorations are virtually indistinguishable from adjacent natural teeth. This is because ceramic crowns reflect light in a similar way to natural tooth structure. Unlike metal-based crowns, ceramic crowns also do not produce dark-shimmering margins around the teeth, which patients often find aesthetically unappealing.
For what purposes are ceramic crowns suitable?
We use ceramic crowns in a variety of ways at our dental clinic. For example, ceramic crowns are suitable as an alternative to fillings for severely damaged tooth structure or for restoring cracks in the tooth. In addition, ceramic crowns can also be used preventively, for instance, to prevent weak teeth from becoming damaged. As part of cosmetically motivated dental treatments, we use ceramic crowns, among other things, to cover severely discolored teeth or dental implants. In addition to covering root-canaled teeth, ceramic crowns can also serve as a foundation for bridges. In general, ceramic crowns can be placed on both molars and front teeth.
Placement of Ceramic Crowns
Unlike metal-based crowns, ceramic crowns are placed in a relatively gentle manner. This is because a ceramic crown does not require any supporting elements that need to be ground into the natural tooth structure. To place a ceramic crown, we bond the crown material directly to the remaining tooth structure using a special adhesive. Prior to this, the tooth structure is professionally prepared to enhance the crown’s adhesion.
To provide you with a ceramic crown that fits the tooth perfectly, we typically start by taking an impression of the tooth in question. Based on this impression, we can then fabricate a custom ceramic crown that blends harmoniously with your adjacent tooth structure in terms of both texture and color. To protect the tooth to be crowned from unpleasant stimuli such as cold and/or heat until the custom ceramic crown is ready, we will fit you with a temporary crown (usually made of plastic). Depending on the position of the tooth being treated, such a temporary crown also serves purposes such as aesthetics and maintaining chewing function.
If you’d like to learn more about ceramic crowns, we’d be happy to provide you with detailed advice on possible individualized treatment options at our Bellevue dental practice in Zurich. Simply get in touch with us.