What is the Zirconium Crown?
A zirconium crown is a type of dental crown made from zirconium oxide, a strong and durable ceramic material. Zirconium crowns are commonly used to restore damaged or decayed teeth and can be an excellent option for patients who need long-lasting, natural-looking dental restoration.
Zirconium oxide is a biocompatible material that is resistant to corrosion and wear, making it an ideal choice for dental restorations. Zirconium crowns can be custom-designed to match the color and shape of the patient’s existing teeth, creating a seamless and natural-looking restoration. Additionally, zirconium crowns can be fabricated using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, which can ensure precise and accurate results.
Zirconium crowns are also known for their strength and durability. They are highly resistant to chipping and cracking, making them an ideal choice for patients who have a history of bruxism (teeth grinding) or other habits that can put stress on the teeth. Overall, zirconium crowns can be a great option for patients who need a reliable and long-lasting dental restoration.
What is the E-Max Crown?
The E-max crown is a type of dental crown made from lithium disilicate ceramic material. It is known for its exceptional aesthetic properties and strength, making it a popular choice for patients who want a natural-looking and long-lasting dental restoration.
The e-max crown is made using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, which allows for precise and accurate results. The material used to make the e-max crown is highly translucent, meaning it allows light to pass through it in a way that closely mimics the appearance of natural teeth. This gives the e-max crown a highly aesthetic appearance that blends seamlessly with the patient’s natural teeth.
In addition to its aesthetic properties, the e-max crown is also known for its strength and durability. It is able to withstand the normal wear and tear of daily use, making it an ideal choice for patients who need a reliable and long-lasting dental restoration. The e-max crown is also less likely to chip or break compared to other types of ceramic crowns.
Overall, the e-max crown is a popular choice for patients who want a dental restoration that is both strong and aesthetically pleasing. Its exceptional properties make it a great option for patients with a range of dental needs, including those who need front teeth restorations, or those who have metal allergies or sensitivities.
Zirconium and e-max are two popular materials used for dental crowns, and they have some differences in terms of their properties and uses.
E-max or zirconia crowns? “Who’s who” or which to choose?
Patients who decide to have their teeth restored often ask the specialists at our clinic which crowns are better: E-max or zirconia crowns. They have recently gained a large following on the market, both among patients and dentists. However, as we know, each method of prosthetics has its strengths and weaknesses. We propose to understand them.
It is worth noting that pressed and zirconia crowns are quite strong contenders. They have excellent aesthetics, are safe, and have a relatively long lifespan. In addition, the prices of these prosthetic restorations do not differ significantly. However, there are certain differences, the main one being the manufacturing technology. Today, we propose to deal with these nuances. Let’s find out which of the “fighters” in the dental prosthetics squad is the stronger one.
Crown material
The main feature and advantage of both zirconia and E-max crowns are that they do not contain metal alloys, which makes them the most biological. Zirconia crowns are made from zirconium dioxide, a material that has been used in prosthetic dentistry for 10-15 years.
E-max crowns on the other hand are made of lithium disilicate. It is a pressed ceramic with leucite crystals, which makes it very strong. Such crowns are very strong and can handle high loads placed on the masticatory teeth.
The experience of dentists over the years shows that the main reason for failures of zirconia restorations is the brittleness of the veneering ceramic. Although the framework itself remains intact, it is an indication of the failure of the entire prosthesis. It is important to note that if lithium disilicate is used as the veneering material, the likelihood of denture failure is significantly reduced.
Production method
Zirconia crowns are made in the laboratory – using CAD/CAM digitizing impressions. Ceramic crowns are made using the pressed casting method (IPS e.max). It is important to note that these restorations are much more durable and can be used for restorations of masticatory teeth that are most stressed.
Safety for the patient
The main advantage of the materials used for the fabrication of both pressed ceramic and zirconia crowns is the biocompatibility or hypoallergenic properties of the materials. This is very important. After all, with a very high incidence of allergies in the population to metal alloys used in dentistry (including noble alloys such as gold-platinum, gold-palladium, etc.), these characteristics of zirconia and lithium disilicate offer hope for allergic patients in need of prosthetic work.
What should I prefer, e-max or zirconia crown?
The choice between an e-max and zirconium crown depends on various factors such as the location of the tooth, the extent of damage, the patient’s budget, and the personal preferences of the patient. Here are some things to consider:
Aesthetics
E-max and zirconia crowns are nowadays as aesthetically pleasing and natural as compared to other types of prostheses. Due to the absence of a metal framework in the described prosthetic constructions, there are no gingival changes (dark rim, reddening of the gums). In addition, compared to metal, these prostheses do not change color over time.
Reliability and stability
According to the results of a cyclic fatigue test performed by scientists at the University of New York School of Dentistry, E-max crowns are more stable than zirconium dioxide prostheses.
In fact, E-max crowns passed all tests that measured the longevity of the restoration. By comparison, crowns made of pressed ceramic endured approximately one million cycles, whereas approximately 50 percent of the tested veneered zirconia crowns only passed 100,000 cycles. However, this did not prevent the researchers from concluding that both crowns could withstand the chewing load, but that IPS e.max crowns were clinically superior to veneered zirconia crowns in terms of chipping or fractures.
Other Features
The main differences are as shown above: E-max crowns are stronger, more durable, and more stable and therefore have a longer service life. However, it is also worth noting that pressed ceramic crowns are much thinner than zirconia crowns. Some people think that less cutting of the tooth occurs because of this; however, it is not true. In both cases, the fit (application of the crown) is as accurate as possible. The most important thing is the dentist’s skill to ensure that the crown fits properly, the gums are properly shaped and the crown lasts long and reliably.
Budget:
E-max crowns are generally more expensive than zirconium crowns. This is due to the materials used and the technology used. We always strive to do our work well, so we only work with the best dental laboratories.
The choice between an e-max and zirconium crown depends on various factors such as the location of the tooth, the extent of damage, the patient’s budget, and the personal preferences of the patient.
