I totally get the popcorn kernel struggle—been there, done that, and my porcelain crown didn’t survive either. I’ve got a zirconia one now and, honestly, it’s held up better than I expected, especially since I grind my teeth at night too. Still, I’ve read a few stories about rare cracks, but mine’s been fine so far. Maybe it’s just luck or maybe I’m not snacking as aggressively as I think... Hard to say. Porcelain does look more natural though, I’ll give it that.
That popcorn kernel curse is real... I busted a crown on a tortilla chip once and felt so ridiculous explaining it at the dentist. I totally hear you about the zirconia holding up better—I’ve got one on a molar and it’s been solid, even though I’m a nighttime teeth grinder too. My dentist did mention that zirconia’s supposed to be tougher, but I still get a little paranoid every time I bite into something crunchy.
I do miss how natural my old porcelain one looked, though. The zirconia is a bit more opaque, at least in my mouth, but honestly I’ll take the durability if it means fewer emergency appointments. Weirdly, my insurance covered more of the zirconia than the porcelain, which made the decision easier.
Sometimes I wonder if it really comes down to luck or just being extra careful after going through a crown replacement. Haven’t tried eating popcorn since—maybe I’m just traumatized, haha.
I totally get being paranoid about crunchy stuff now. After paying out of pocket for a porcelain crown that chipped in less than two years, I switched to zirconia for the next one—mainly because insurance covered more of it, too. It does look a bit less natural, but honestly, not having to worry about another expensive repair is worth the trade-off for me. Sometimes I think being careful helps, but honestly, I’m convinced zirconia just handles my budget (and my snacking habits) better.
That’s actually super reassuring to hear. I’ve been stressing about picking between the two, especially since I grind my teeth at night and constantly worry about cracking something. Did you notice any sensitivity with zirconia? Honestly, I’ll take “less natural” if it means fewer repairs and less anxiety over every crunchy snack.
Honestly, I’ll take “less natural” if it means fewer repairs and less anxiety over every crunchy snack.
That’s exactly where my head was at too. I grind my teeth pretty bad (my dentist calls it “enthusiastic,” which made me laugh), and the idea of something chipping or cracking just stressed me out. I went with zirconia for my molar, and honestly, I haven’t noticed any weird sensitivity—if anything, it feels sturdier than my old filling ever did. I do miss that “real tooth” look a little, but not enough to trade for peace of mind. Totally get wanting to avoid extra repairs and costs down the line.
