Zirconium Porcelain
Zirconium-supported porcelain restorations are aesthetic restorative applications made on a white zirconium material. Recently, zirconium teeth have become one of the most preferred treatments. The porcelain used is coated on a material called zirconium. The most important feature of this material is its light-permeable structure, which allows it to harmonize with natural teeth. Zirconium, a solid material, also provides high durability to the porcelain coated on it. It has aesthetic advantages over metal-based porcelains. The paint called opaquer, used to cover the gray color of the metal in metal-based porcelains, makes the porcelain look more opaque and matte, causing the depth of the light to disappear.
In addition, in porcelain veneers using normal metal, the gray color of the metal sometimes appears over the gingiva or colors the gingiva near the gingival margin. This issue does not occur with zirconium porcelains.
The preference for zirconium, especially in porcelain veneers applied to the anterior region, makes our patients more aesthetically pleasing.
How is Zirconium Porcelain Made?
Less material is removed from all surfaces of the teeth compared to normal metal-based porcelains. An impression is taken and sent to the laboratory. After the zirconium infrastructure is tried in the first session and the physician’s approval is obtained, the patient’s finished zirconium porcelains are bonded to the teeth during the second visit.
What are the Advantages of Zirconium?
– It can be used on all teeth where metal-based porcelain teeth are used.
– It causes less material loss (tooth cutting) than metal-based porcelain restorations.
– Due to its high light transmittance, it most closely resembles natural teeth.
– Compared to other aesthetic porcelains, it does not reflect the darkness of the dark and colored teeth underneath.
– It does not cause any change in taste or smell. It does not discolor.
– In implant applications, the restoration that best protects the implant is zirconium-supported prosthesis applications.
