I've had porcelain crowns for about five years now, and honestly, the staining hasn't been too noticeable for me either—even with my daily coffee habit (which is probably way too much, lol). My dentist did mention zirconia once, but when I saw the price difference, I almost choked on my latte. Zirconia might resist stains better, sure, but porcelain has held up pretty well considering how much abuse mine go through. Plus, a little staining makes them look more natural anyway, right? Like real teeth aren't perfectly white forever... unless you're a Hollywood celeb or something. Personally, I'd rather save the extra cash and just brush a bit more diligently. But hey, that's just me being cheap again.
I've been thinking along similar lines lately. Porcelain crowns have been pretty solid for me too, especially considering my tea habit is probably just as bad as your coffee addiction, haha. Honestly, the staining hasn't bothered me much either—like you said, it kinda blends in naturally after a while.
But one thing I'm curious about is durability over the long haul. My dentist mentioned zirconia might be tougher against chipping or cracking compared to porcelain. Has anyone here had porcelain crowns longer than five or ten years? Did they hold up okay structurally, or did you notice any issues like small cracks or chips developing over time?
I mean, I totally get the cost factor—zirconia prices made my wallet cry a little too—but if porcelain crowns start breaking down after a certain point, maybe zirconia could save money in the long run? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking from someone who hates surprise dental bills...
Anyway, I'm interested to hear if anyone's had porcelain crowns for a really long stretch and how they've held up structurally. Stains aside, do they still feel strong and stable after many years of daily wear and tear?
if porcelain crowns start breaking down after a certain point, maybe zirconia could save money in the long run? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking from someone who hates surprise dental bills...
I totally get where you’re coming from on the wallet pain—zirconia quotes made me wince too. I’ve had three porcelain crowns since 2013 (molars and one premolar), so just over a decade now. Structurally, they’ve held up better than I expected, but I’ll be honest: they aren’t flawless.
The staining doesn’t really bug me either—tea, coffee, red wine... it all sort of blends together after a while. But I did get a tiny chip on one crown around year six or seven. It was on the back molar, and I probably did it crunching ice (terrible habit, I know). My dentist smoothed it out and said it wasn’t a big deal unless it got worse, which it hasn’t.
No actual cracks so far, but I do check them when I floss—just in case. They still feel solid when I chew, no weird shifting or sensitivity, so for day-to-day use, they’re fine. I will say I’m a little paranoid every time I bite into something harder than toast. My dentist told me porcelain can be more prone to chipping if you grind your teeth at night (which apparently I do), so if you’re a grinder or clencher, that might be something to factor in.
I’ve heard zirconia is basically indestructible by comparison, but honestly... for the price difference and how long these have lasted, I’m not sure I’d switch unless one actually broke. Dental insurance barely covered half of mine, so the upfront cost was already a stretch.
If you’re careful (and don’t eat ice like me), porcelain seems to last pretty well. But yeah, the anxiety about “surprise dental bills” never really goes away. Every time my dentist pokes around back there I brace myself for bad news.
Long story short: minor chips are possible but not a dealbreaker for me. Structurally, mine are holding up after ten-ish years, but if you’re rough on your teeth or just want peace of mind for longer, zirconia might be worth it... if your budget can handle it.
I’ve always wondered if the extra cost for zirconia is really worth it in the long run, especially since my porcelain ones have held up fine except for a tiny chip (which was totally my fault, too). Has anyone here actually had a zirconia crown for several years? Curious if they really are as “indestructible” as people say or if that’s just hype.
Curious if they really are as “indestructible” as people say or if that’s just hype.
I keep wondering the same. I get super anxious about anything chipping or cracking, especially since I grind my teeth at night. Does zirconia actually hold up better for people who clench or grind? Or do both types still need a night guard?
