Reading your sandwich story gave me a mini panic moment, not gonna lie. 😅 I'm about to get my first crown (zirconia) on a molar and have been kinda stressing about the whole porcelain vs zirconia thing. My dentist mentioned zirconia being tougher, especially in the back teeth, so your story actually makes me feel better about my choice.
I'm glad to hear zirconia doesn't look super obvious up front though. I don't need one there yet (fingers crossed), but knowing they blend decently is reassuring. Also, totally with you on the grinding—I think half my tooth problems come from nighttime stress chewing, lol. Guess I'll be joining the nightguard club soon enough...
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience. It's nice to hear from someone who's tried both and survived to tell the tale. 😂
Your dentist is right about zirconia being tougher, especially for molars. I've had mine for almost 4 years now, and trust me, I'm a nervous chewer/grinder too... it's held up great so far. Honestly, the nightguard was a bigger adjustment than the crown itself. Have you tried one yet? It feels weird at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly. Hang in there, you'll be fine.
"Honestly, the nightguard was a bigger adjustment than the crown itself."
Totally agree on this. I remember the first few nights with my nightguard—I felt like I had a hockey puck in my mouth, lol. But zirconia crowns really are impressive durability-wise, especially if you're prone to grinding or clenching. Porcelain looks nice but tends to chip more easily under heavy pressure. Zirconia's strength makes it ideal for molars where we do most of our chewing. Mine's been solid for about 5 years now, zero issues so far... knock on wood!
Did your dentist recommend zirconia specifically for molars? Mine mentioned porcelain could be fine if you're careful, but honestly, I'm not exactly gentle on my teeth, lol. Maybe zirconia's the safer bet long-term... especially with the nighttime grinding.
My dentist did mention zirconia as a solid option, especially for grinders, but honestly, I've had porcelain on my back molar for about 7 years now without issues. And trust me, I grind like crazy at night—my husband jokes that I could chew through concrete, lol. A good night guard made all the difference for me. Zirconia might be tougher overall, but don't rule porcelain out completely if you can manage the grinding. Just my two cents...
