Funny, I actually had the opposite experience—my old porcelain crown on a molar lasted ages, even though I’m a serious teeth grinder. It chipped a bit after like 10 years, but it still looked super natural. I do get why people like zirconia for strength, but sometimes porcelain does the trick too... especially if you’re not biting ice all the time.
That’s actually reassuring to hear, because I’ve always felt like porcelain gets a bit of a bad rap for not being “tough enough,” especially for those of us who grind or clench at night. I had a similar experience—my first crown was porcelain fused to metal and honestly, it survived way more than it should have. I’m not proud to admit how often I forgot my night guard, but it still held up for about 12 years before a tiny chip showed up. Even then, nobody noticed unless I pointed it out.
I totally get why people lean toward zirconia now, especially since dentists keep mentioning how much stronger it is. But strength isn’t everything. For me, the way porcelain blends in with my other teeth made a huge difference in how confident I felt smiling. And like you said, as long as you’re not crunching on ice or hard candy every day, porcelain can definitely go the distance. It’s kind of nice knowing there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—sometimes the “weaker” option ends up being just right.
Dental stuff always feels like a gamble, doesn’t it? You do your best, follow the advice, and cross your fingers. Glad to see someone else had good luck with porcelain too. Makes me feel a little less nervous about sticking with what works for me, even if everyone’s hyping up zirconia these days.
That’s pretty much my experience too—my old porcelain crown outlasted what I expected, even with my bad habit of nighttime clenching. I totally get the appeal of zirconia for strength, but honestly, I care more about how it looks with my other teeth. Has anyone here actually had a zirconia crown chip or break? I keep hearing they’re “indestructible,” but nothing’s perfect, right? Sometimes I wonder if dentists push them more because they’re newer or just genuinely better for certain people.
I’m right there with you on the anxiety about crowns. My dentist suggested zirconia for my first one and I had a mini freak-out about whether it would look weird next to my other teeth. I totally get what you mean—strength is great, but if it’s obvious, what’s the point?
From what I gathered (after way too much late-night Googling), zirconia is super strong, but like you said, nothing is truly “indestructible.” My cousin actually managed to chip his after biting down on an olive pit (seriously, who expects that?), so I guess it can happen. But apparently, it’s less likely than with porcelain.
I also wondered if dentists push them because they’re new and shiny, but mine explained that for people who grind or clench their teeth (hello, anxiety club), zirconia handles the pressure better. Still, the color matching isn’t always perfect—mine looks fine in normal light but in bright sunlight it’s just a smidge off. Not enough to bother me now, but I obsessed over it at first.
Anyway, I’d say if you care more about looks and your bite isn’t super strong, porcelain might still be worth considering. But if you’re a chronic clencher like me… maybe strength wins out.
I totally get the color-matching anxiety. I had a zirconia crown put on a molar last year, and honestly, I stared at it in different mirrors and lighting for weeks. It’s crazy how something can look perfect in the dental chair and then a little “off” under sunlight. Did your dentist give you a choice between full zirconia and the layered kind? I was told the layered ones look more natural but might not be as tough. I grind my teeth at night too, so I picked the solid one for strength, but I do wonder if I should’ve just gone with porcelain since it’s not a front tooth. Anyone else notice their crowns feel colder sometimes? Or is that just me overthinking...
