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Tag: metal-free

Computerized metal-free porcelain crown

The metal-free porcelain crown provides aesthetics combined with strength and durability

What is a porcelain crown?

A porcelain crown is an artificial tooth – a dental prosthesis – that resembles in form and function a natural tooth that has been damaged. Porcelain crowns can also be grouped together to make fixed bridges or fixed porcelain prostheses. Here at the ImplArt Dental Clinic in Brazil, we make metal-free crowns using completely computerized systems. We therefore offer our patients the most modern systems and the most advanced results.

What is dental porcelain?

Porcelain is a material that resembles glass and is used to reconstruct teeth. It has a natural color and high resistance. It is also called dental ceramic.

Types and materials of porcelain crowns

In short, there are different types of materials used to make porcelain crowns: the older materials use metal and the more modern ones are metal-free. Porcelain crowns with metal internal structures are called metal-ceramic and crowns with a white structure such as zirconia are called metal-free.

There are also crowns that do not use internal structures and are made using computerized methods. In addition, covering a destroyed natural tooth with a ceramic crown is essential for oral health, as it will restore the patient’s chewing ability and even allow them to eat hard foods.

The advantage of the metal-free porcelain crown is that it is more aesthetic, since pure porcelain is a white material. As a result, the structure is not visible inside the crown even in brightly lit environments. The new generations of porcelain crowns are made using cad/cam methods according to computerized designs and don’t even require layers of internal reinforcement like metal and zirconia. They are made from a single (monolithic) material. These are digital, metal-free porcelain crowns whose main advantages are aesthetics and speed of production.

Translucent zirconia

Another innovative material for making a new porcelain crown is translucent zirconia, a material that is up to 10 x stronger than ordinary porcelain crowns. For this reason, they are highly recommended for the oral rehabilitation of back teeth and in patients with bruxism. Oral rehabilitation with crowns can be carried out on implants, on roots with root canal treatment and on natural teeth without root canal treatment.

Porcelain crown

Fitting dental crowns requires preparation (tooth wear) so that the crown fits correctly. The main digital technique we use is Cerec 3D, an intraoral molding system with scanners and robotic tooth production.

Before a permanent prosthesis is made, we will make a temporary prosthesis so that you don’t lose your tooth. After the rehabilitation treatment, you will be able to lead a normal life, eat hard food and clean your teeth every day with a toothbrush and dental floss. The ImplArt Clinic specializes in dental prostheses and can offer you a porcelain crown with state-of-the-art technology.

Porcelain crown: advantages and indications

Porcelain crowns are fixed dental prostheses that mimic the shape and appearance of natural teeth. When a tooth is badly damaged, it may be necessary to have root canal treatment and a porcelain crown. By Dr. Roberto Markarian, graduated dentist and specialist in dental prostheses and dental implants in São Paulo, Brazil.

What is dental porcelain?

Choosing the ideal dental prosthesis can lead to confusion when faced with a number of options. Fixed dental prostheses must meet both functional and aesthetic needs. These are the main objectives that determine the choice of the ideal material. Before choosing the material, it is first necessary to understand the differences between the types of porcelain dental crowns. The main one is the reinforcement technique, which is the part required for masticatory efforts. Understand the differences better:

Metal-ceramic crown

The porcelain dental crown is built on a metal structure. It is durable and aesthetic, and can be used on both anterior and posterior teeth. However, in some cases, it may not achieve the best aesthetic result on anterior teeth, because the dark metal inside the prosthesis can leave the crown looking darkened when subjected to intense lighting.

Porcelain crown with metal-free zirconia

This is a porcelain crown mounted on a white zirconia structure, which is therefore metal-free. It is highly durable and has excellent aesthetic results, as the white zirconia of the internal structure leaves the crown with a natural appearance very similar to the natural tooth. The porcelain crown with zirconia can also be fixed on dental implants and is completely computer-engineered and made on a 3D tooth printer. It is also an indication for people with metal allergies.

Pure porcelain crown

It has excellent aesthetic results and great resistance. The material used is lithium disilicate or feldspathic ceramic. Because this ceramic is very translucent, it is not normally suitable for use on darkened teeth or on metal posts.

porcelain crown
Porcelain crown for natural teeth with excellent anatomy and aesthetics

How much does a porcelain crown cost?

Treatment prices can only be given after a face-to-face dental consultation. This is because the patient needs to be thoroughly assessed so that our team can understand their functional and aesthetic needs. Only then can we recommend the most appropriate treatment. In many cases, our team will offer a number of treatment options and respective outcome expectations, and the patient is free to choose.

Porcelain crowns can be made quickly in our clinic using our Day Clinic method for porcelain crowns. At the end of the porcelain crown treatment, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by flossing daily and brushing regularly.

If you are far away, it is possible to have an online consultation, also known as a teleconsultation. This preliminary consultation takes place with our clinical director, Dr. Roberto Markarian, who will be able to make a preliminary assessment of your case and make recommendations for your treatment. This also applies to those who need dental implants, as we can plan your dental implant surgery remotely.

Read more about dental crowns

Fixed dental prosthesis in pure 3D translucent zirconia

Among the latest material options for making a fixed prosthesis for a full arch implant, total implant or protocol prosthesis, we now have an innovative technique full of advantages: 3D pure translucent zirconia. Zirconia is currently the most modern material for both full and partial dental implant prostheses. It is also the most suitable material for dental crowns on single implants or fixed prostheses.

Zirconia dentures combine beauty and strength

Pure zirconia is also known as cubic zirconia, translucent zirconia, monolithic zirconia and black zirconia. It is currently considered the most modern and resistant material for making dental crowns.

Dental prostheses made from this material are fixed onto dental implants previously placed in the upper or lower jaw.

In order to offer patients the most modern treatments, the ImplArt dental clinic has once again innovated by pioneering the best European technology (Austria) to manufacture 3D zirconia dental prostheses in its own laboratory.

Its modern manufacturing allows treatment to be carried out using 100% computerized techniques, with complete digital planning of the case. This means more comfortable treatment for the patient, much more predictable, and above all, faster.

Translucent Zirconia
The translucent zirconia protocol prosthesis is completely white and contains no metal inside. As a result, the colors and shapes are more beautiful and natural.

Planning 3D zirconia implant/prosthesis treatment

For a complete treatment with dental implants, there must first be an extensive conversation between the dental surgeon and the patient. The definition of the total treatment takes place in 3 stages:

  • 1- Firstly: Planning the surgical and prosthetic aspects of the all-tooth or partial implant case. First of all, the patient’s needs are studied, with a clinical assessment and radiological examinations, so that the case can be planned precisely before it is carried out.
  • 2- Secondly: Performing the surgery to install the dental implants. At this point, a temporary transition prosthesis for the full arch should also be installed.
  • 3- Thirdly: Preparation of the final dental prosthesis. Once the implants have healed, the long-awaited making of the complete prosthesis begins, according to the material chosen by the patient at the start of their treatment.
Gumless dental zirconia prosthesis.
Zirconia dental prosthesis without gums. In some cases it is possible to make a zirconia dental prosthesis without the pink gum layer. In an acrylic dental protocol this would not be possible.

Not all protocol prostheses are the same and made of acrylic!

The choice of implant prosthesis material

Nowadays, you can choose from a variety of materials for fixed prostheses on implants (dental protocols). In the past, there were only metal-ceramics (metal structure and porcelain exterior) and acrylic (resin), made by hand.

Today, ImplArt is able to offer patients options with extreme resistance and superior aesthetics, such as computer-engineered translucent zirconia. In this sense, each type of prosthetic material can have an impact on the patient’s treatment in terms of price, preparation time and the final aesthetics of the total implant.

Therefore, in this article, we will explain the most modern model of fixed prosthesis on implants: the computerized translucent zirconia prosthesis, as well as its advantages and characteristics.

What is 3D dental zirconia? Zirconia is a white material that has the strength of a metal

Porcelain crown
Zirconia dental prosthesis being designed on a computer, with a photo of the face superimposed. This gives us additional information about the lips, skin and gum colors, the shape of the teeth and the final appearance of the smile.

Types of zirconia prosthesis for dental protocols

Today there are three types of dental zirconia to better perform protocol prostheses on implants (fixed dental prostheses), namely :

  • 1. milky whitezirconia structure (lower volume), together with applied porcelain overlay (higher volume)
  • 2. 3Dtranslucent zirconia prosthesis (larger volume), i.e. with a small application of porcelain on the outside of the teeth (smaller volume)
  • 3.3D monolithic pure zirconia prosthesis (full volume) with make-up, so no additional porcelain applied
zirconia prosthesis being manufactured
The aesthetics of aesthetic zirconia fixed prostheses are unbeatable. Notice how translucent the material is and how beautiful and natural it looks.

What does the 3D translucent pure zirconia implant prosthesis look like?

In this type of zirconia prosthesis, there is only a small porcelain overlay on the structural part of the prosthesis. In short, the entire final process of making the monolithic zirconia prosthesis is done by computer programs and robotic machines( Digital Dentistry).

Therefore, we are sure that the fittings will be perfect, the anatomy will be that of natural teeth, and the colors will be realistic.

zirconia and translucency prosthesis
Dental zirconia protocol. Note that there is a small layer of translucent porcelain on the outside of the tooth to give it more shine, better color and more translucency. The rest of the prosthesis is solid and made of pure zirconia that has been tinted to match the natural color of the tooth and gums. The holes will be closed after the fixed prosthesis has been installed.

Advantages of the 3D zirconia protocol prosthesis

In contrast to metal as a structure, the main advantages of translucent zirconia are its biocompatibility, excellent aesthetics and extreme resistance. Zirconia, with the white structural part of the dental prosthesis, undeniably enhances the natural cosmetic characteristics of porcelain.

In fact, dental zirconia is exceptionally strong and durable as a base. So much so that the use of small portions of porcelain over this translucent zirconia structure provides complementary aesthetics for the complete implant.

In addition, zirconia is a super biocompatible and anti-allergenic material and is also used in white dental implant posts.

zirconia dental prosthesis internal structure
The structure of the zirconia dental prosthesis is white and, at this stage, not yet colored or shiny. In the next phase of the prosthetic work in our dental laboratory, the piece will come to life with the pigmentation of teeth and gums. The final colors depend on the consensus between the person’s taste and the dentist’s opinion. However, you can virtually choose any color from the available range. The most commonly used shades for porcelain zirconia teeth are B1, A1, BL4, A2, B2. For the gums, we try to follow the color of the patient’s natural gums, with the most common colors being STG4, STG5 and STG8.
Porcelain crown
Work on applying layers of ceramic. In the end, all the natural aspects of the teeth and gums will be reproduced, imitating their tones, textures and translucency.

Read more: Aesthetic cores for dental crowns

zirconia fixed dental prosthesis
Zirconia prosthesis with aesthetic ceramic application, ready to be installed on the implants

Superior aesthetics of 3DZirconia

Dental zirconia can be custom-made in such a way that it resembles the enamel and gum tissues, thus optimizing the aesthetic result.

Translucent dental zirconia is undeniably the best material for fixed prostheses on implants, as it offers translucency, naturalness and strength as a result.

First of all, it should be noted that the zirconia protocol prosthesis makes no noise when chewed, is not heavy, nor does it damage dental implants, and certainly not opposing teeth.

Translucent dental zirconia is a material that above all does not change color, does not stain and therefore does not wear out with use.

multlayer zirconia crowns
Observe the natural anatomical details of the finished porcelain and zirconia fixed dental prosthesis. This work is done in our in-house digital dental laboratory.

How are 3D translucent zirconia dentures made?

The ImplArt Clinic has all the infrastructure to make your zirconia fixed prosthesis in its own laboratory. Here’s how it works: a zirconia dental prosthesis is manufactured using computerized processes, starting with the milling of a solid block of zirconia.

Above all, because it is a CAD-CAM (computerized) job, your dental project is stored in our laboratory, so the original project can be printed again quickly, should the need arise.

Porcelain crown
Dental prostheses: versions with or without artificial gum are possible (but it depends on an examination to check feasibility). 1-Without gum layer; 2-Light gum layer; 3-With gum layer.

Maintenance of fixed 3D translucent zirconia dental implants

First and foremost, zirconia is extremely resistant and is certainly the strongest material for dental use. As such, its resistance is superior to porcelain and, of course, resin.

Maintenance for a zirconia prosthesis involves a visit to the dentist every 6 months for prophylaxis, in order to monitor oral health in the same way as recommended for all other patients.

The risk of the prosthesis fracturing is, above all, very rare, due to a characteristic of the material.

With regard to the color and shape of the teeth, these remain unchanged over time, making the material an excellent choice for its durability and, above all, long-term aesthetics.

It is always important to remember that, once treatment is complete, you should visit your dentist every 6 months for prophylaxis and to monitor the results of your treatment.