My dentist mentioned zirconia crowns last longer, but my friend swears by porcelain ones. Um, anyone here have experience with either? Curious which holds up better long-term, you know, chewing-wise and all that.
I've had both porcelain and zirconia crowns over the years, and honestly, zirconia has been a game changer for me. Porcelain looks great, no doubt about it, but I had one crack after just a few years—probably from grinding my teeth at night. My dentist switched me to zirconia after that, and it's been about 7 years now without any issues. Zirconia feels sturdier when I'm chewing tougher foods like nuts or crunchy veggies, and I don't worry as much about accidentally biting down too hard.
That said, porcelain can still be a solid choice if aesthetics are your main concern, especially for front teeth. But if durability and peace of mind are your priorities, I'd lean toward zirconia. Just my two cents based on personal experience... everyone's mileage may vary, of course.
"Porcelain looks great, no doubt about it, but I had one crack after just a few years—probably from grinding my teeth at night."
This is exactly what I'm worried about. I grind my teeth pretty badly at night, and I'm getting my first crown soon. Did your dentist mention if zirconia is always better for people who grind their teeth, or was it just your specific case? I've heard porcelain can chip easier, but does zirconia ever chip or crack too, or is it basically bulletproof?
Also, you mentioned aesthetics—does zirconia look noticeably different from porcelain in real life? I'm getting mine on a tooth that's somewhat visible when I smile, so I'm a bit anxious about how it'll look. My dentist said zirconia can be matched pretty closely to natural teeth, but I'm still skeptical...
I grind my teeth pretty badly at night, and I'm getting my first crown soon.
I completely understand your concerns—I went through something similar myself. I grind my teeth pretty badly too, and my dentist recommended zirconia specifically because it's tougher and less prone to chipping or cracking compared to porcelain. That said, nothing's truly bulletproof; zirconia can still chip, but it's definitely more durable overall.
As for aesthetics, zirconia crowns have improved a lot in recent years. Mine blends in nicely with my natural teeth, and honestly, no one's ever noticed the difference...even me sometimes!
I had porcelain crowns put in about 5 years ago, and while they've held up pretty well, I do notice some minor wear and tear—nothing major, just tiny chips around the edges. My dentist mentioned zirconia to me last time too, saying they're stronger overall. Given your teeth grinding, zirconia does sound like a solid choice. Good to hear aesthetics have improved though, because that was my main hesitation when I first got mine done...
