Zirconia Crowns for Children
Zirconia Crowns for Children: All You Need to Know
Does your child need a dental crown? A dental crown is essentially a cap that is used to cover either a tooth or a dental implant.
They are usually recommended as a method to support teeth that have become broken or weak. Used alongside a bridge, they can effectively strengthen multiple teeth.
If your child has a tooth that is very worn down, misshapen, or discolored, then a dental crown might be used to hide this for a healthier and more visually appealing effect.
After all, our teeth are connected with our self-confidence at every age!
Knowing that your child could benefit from a dental crown, it’s natural to wonder what this crown will be made of. There are a few options available, but zirconia dental crowns are becoming increasingly popular. They also offer specific benefits for younger dental patients.
Read on to learn more about zirconia dental crowns and understand what makes them a smart choice for your child.
Why Choose Zirconia Dental Crowns?
Zirconium dioxide, the material used to make zirconia crowns, is very durable and long-lasting. This means that your child’s crown will be strong. This will make it easier for them to chew as normal.
The strength of zirconia means that your child’s tooth will require less preparation before it is installed. This is a major advantage for children who feel nervous at the dentist. The whole installation process only takes 1 or 2 visits maximum.
You might assume that metal-based crowns will last longer than zirconia; however, this isn’t the case. In fact, a 2017 study in the Journal of Dentistry showed that they stayed in equivalent condition when tested over a 5 year period.
As long as it’s cared for correctly, you can count on your child’s zirconia crown to endure over the years.
When something foreign is installed in the body, like a crown, there’s always a risk that a reaction such as inflammation is produced. This risk is reduced through the use of zirconia crowns because they are more biocompatible.
Crowns are made using an impression of the tooth so that they fit the mouth perfectly.
Why Choose a Zirconia Crown for Children?
You may have had a crown yourself, but choosing one for your child is a different matter. You naturally want to protect them and choose the most comfortable and effective option.
Because zirconia is metal-free, it is certified as biocompatible. This significantly reduces the risk of negative reactions such as inflammation. It looks just as good as a traditional porcelain crown that you may be familiar with; however, zirconia is more durable. It will last longer and be more resilient.
Children who still have their primary teeth need a strong dental crown that they can rely on. A zirconia crown for children is a great choice to restore broken, chipped, or damaged primary teeth. They can also restore teeth that are decayed or not developing as expected.
Because zirconia crowns have such a natural appearance, they will blend in with the rest of your child’s teeth. This is especially important when the tooth requiring restoration is at the front of the mouth.
Left untreated, a damaged tooth can become a source of insecurity for your child. And we all want children to feel as confident and comfortable as possible when they smile!
Unlike those who have porcelain, zirconia crown kids can be sure their crown won’t chip or wear away over time. That’s why a zirconia crown for children is an excellent resource when it comes to aesthetic restoration.
When Is It Best to Use Zirconia Crowns?
Having learned more about the advantages of zirconia dental crowns, you may be confused as to why you weren’t offered this option as an adult. The reason for this is that it isn’t always the best material for an adult tooth crown.
Zirconia crowns are excellent temporary crowns and they’re perfectly suited to primary teeth. Why? Because they generate a better tissue response than stainless steel crowns, meaning they’re far less likely to result in gingival inflammation.
Choosing the right crown for a primary (or “baby”) tooth is important because baby teeth are important to a child’s development and they support adult teeth to erupt in the right direction. The needs of a baby tooth are very different from those of an adult tooth.
In the case of an adult tooth, for example, the passive-fit preparation of a zirconia crown might not leave enough margin for a permanent crown at a later date.
Your dentist will have assessed your situation and decided whether stainless steel or zirconia was a more suitable option depending on your needs and the condition of your teeth and gums.
Although zirconia dental crowns treated correctly can last for up to 20 years, just like their metal equivalents, a temporary zirconia crown for children is especially appropriate.
What Is Zirconia?
Zirconia is a type of ceramic that has become incredibly popular in modern-day restorative dentistry. It isn’t just used in crowns; it’s also used in bridges, inserts, and implants. The reason it has become so popular is that it is tough to fracture, resistant to fatigue, and it has a high level of biocompatibility.
This is how it earned the alternative name of “ceramic steel.” It’s a very strong metal that’s not unlike titanium, which is also used in dental implants. Zirconia differs, though, because it is naturally a dull white color. It doesn’t need to be altered much to look like a real tooth!
Often, dental zirconia is dyed to enhance its aesthetic. However, since it’s ceramic and naturally white, it can be blended in with other teeth relatively easily.
The History of Zirconia Dental Crowns
Although zirconia dental crowns are now incredibly popular, they have only become commonly used in dentistry recently. They are the result of some incredible dental advances made in the last two decades.
As adult dental restoration became a preferred treatment, it began to carry over into pediatric dentistry. It has been possible to obtain a zirconia crown for children for over 10 years now.
Zirconia itself is nothing new, though. In fact, its history can be traced back to the 18th Century, when Zirconium was extracted from the mineral Zircon by a scientist named Martin Heinrich Klaproth. He noted its most useful properties: it was very strong and it could resist corrosion.
Because of these properties, zirconia crowns cause less stress and strain to the mouth than porcelain ones. They don’t get sharp edges over time in the same way. They don’t erode your other teeth when they rub against them. This is why they’re so useful in pediatric dentistry, where baby teeth must be protected as much as possible.
Technological innovations allowed dentists to start working with zirconia in the 2000s. It caused a lot of excitement since it lasted just as long as metal but had more tooth-like qualities in its translucency, texture, and color.
From humble beginnings, zirconium dioxide has become one of the most widely used oxide ceramics in dentistry.
Zirconia Compared to Other Crowns
There are options beside zirconia when it comes to crowns, of course. Porcelain is another option, as are metal based crowns. Metal based crowns are less in demand these days because zirconia and porcelain give a more lifelike and realistic appearance.
For people with cavities, crowns made of porcelain fused to metal were the number one choice for a while. However, there was definitely room for improvement.
The metal substructure underneath the porcelain could be exposed when the gum tissue started to recede, for example. Since people get crowns for a more pleasing aesthetic impact, this was deemed unsatisfactory by many.
That’s why when zirconia dental crowns were introduced, patients started choosing them over restorations that involved porcelain fused to metal.
Dentists agree: there has been a definite shift in favor of zirconia. This is because not only do they look great, but they’re also very practical: long lasting and almost indestructible!
Zirconia is stronger than porcelain and, in fact, it’s even stronger than some metal alloys. Children might experience a reaction when their crown is porcelain; zirconia crown kids are less likely to experience inflammation due to its biocompatible qualities.
Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that the number of porcelain fused to metal crowns requested is lower than zirconia crowns.
How Are Zirconia Dental Crowns Implanted?
It’s normal to feel a little nervous about visiting the dentist, especially when you’re a child and you’re going to receive a treatment you’ve never had before.
Why not explain what the process will look like to your child before the appointment? Hopefully, this will reassure them that it’s incredibly easy to have a zirconia crown for children fitted.
First of all, the tooth will be prepared. That involves removing any unhealthy tissue before shaping the tooth so that a crown can be applied on top of it. If the dentist thinks this might be uncomfortable for the patient, then local anaesthetic will be used to make the process as pleasant as possible.
Then, an impression of the teeth will be taken. The digital data that is obtained will be used to fabricate a crown that fits perfectly.
The crown will be crafted from a block of zirconia and it will be entirely unique to the wearer. It will be bonded to the natural tooth with dental cement. If any small adjustments are required, they will be made at this stage.
Get A Zirconia Crown for Children at Garland Pediatric Dentistry
In Garland, Texas, Garland Pediatric Dentistry is proud to be one of the few pediatric dental services that offer this superior kind of crown to children.
Contact us to request an appointment if you believe your child could benefit from a zirconia crown.
