I went through something similar a couple years back—ended up going with zirconia for my molar. Honestly, it's been holding up great so far, zero regrets. My dentist did mention the whole "opposing teeth wear" thing too, but he reassured me that as long as the crown is polished properly, it's usually not a big deal. He joked that if I was planning on chewing rocks or something, we might have a problem... 😂
But seriously, from what I've experienced and read, zirconia seems pretty solid (literally and figuratively). Porcelain definitely looks nice up front, but for molars where strength matters more than aesthetics, zirconia seems like the way to go. Of course, everyone's different—definitely smart to talk it over with your dentist and see what they recommend based on your bite and habits.
Interesting points about zirconia, and I agree it's generally a solid choice for molars. Proper polishing definitely helps minimize the wear on opposing teeth, but I've also seen cases where patients with particularly strong bites or grinding habits still experienced some noticeable wear over time—even with well-polished zirconia crowns. It's not super common, but it can happen.
Porcelain crowns, on the other hand, can chip more easily under heavy biting forces, especially in molars. I've had patients who chose porcelain for aesthetic reasons and ended up needing replacements sooner than expected because of fractures or chips. But then again, some people have porcelain crowns lasting decades without issues... dental materials can be unpredictable sometimes.
I'm curious if anyone here has experience with newer hybrid materials like porcelain-fused-to-zirconia or lithium disilicate (e.max)? Those seem promising in balancing aesthetics and durability, but real-world feedback is always helpful.
"I'm curious if anyone here has experience with newer hybrid materials like porcelain-fused-to-zirconia or lithium disilicate (e.max)? Those seem promising in balancing aesthetics and durability, but real-world feedback is always helpful."
I actually had an e.max crown placed on one of my premolars about five years ago. My dentist recommended it specifically because I have a history of grinding and had already chipped a porcelain crown before. Honestly, it's held up surprisingly well—no chips, cracks, or noticeable wear yet, and it blends in nicely with my natural teeth. I do wear a nightguard now, though, so that's probably helping a bit.
But you're right, dental materials can be unpredictable... my sister got a zirconia crown around the same time, and even though it's supposed to be tougher, she ended up with some minor wear on the opposing tooth. Nothing major, but noticeable enough at her last check-up. Seems like a lot depends on individual bite patterns and habits.
Honestly, it's held up surprisingly well—no chips, cracks, or noticeable wear yet, and it blends in nicely with my natural teeth. I do wear a nightguard now, though, so that's probably helping a ...
It's interesting about zirconia causing wear on opposing teeth—I hear that sometimes too. From my experience, though, it's often due to how polished the crown surface is rather than the material itself. A well-polished zirconia crown can actually be surprisingly gentle... just something to consider.
That's a good point about polishing. I've had both porcelain and zirconia crowns over the years, and honestly, my zirconia ones have been a total champ so far. No noticeable wear or issues with opposing teeth either. My dentist mentioned something similar—that it's usually the finishing rather than just material alone that makes the big difference.
Also, you're smart to use a nightguard; grinding can definitely do a number on even the toughest crowns. I learned that lesson the hard way after cracking a porcelain one years ago (ouch). Since switching to zirconia and getting fitted for a decent nightguard, things have been smooth sailing.
Anyway, glad to hear yours is holding up well. Sounds like you're doing everything right... keep it up!
