When we place dental implants we put a prosthesis which are usually crowns over the implant to replace the missing tooth. With these crowns we will recover the aesthetics and function of our teeth. With dental implants we can use single crowns, bridges or implant-supported prosthesis of an entire dental arch. All these types of implant prosthesis can be made of metal-porcelain or zirconia:
Crowns on metal implants
The prosthesis on metal implants usually have a metal base, but the outer layer of porcelain, this type of crowns are usually used in the posterior sector (molars and premolars).
All-metal crowns are made from an alloy of gold, palladium, nickel or chromium among others. In contrast, porcelain fused to metal crowns mimic the natural color of the teeth next door. With metal-porcelain crowns there is more wear on the teeth than with metal crowns.
These types of crowns are stronger than those that are made only of ceramic, but having the metal base this gives us a more opaque appearance.
This type of crown does not have the ability to be reflective like natural teeth, and having the metal base it is possible that over time a small metal strip along the gingiva, although there are currently techniques that allow us to obtain very good aesthetic results at the level of the neck of the crown, preventing the metal from being seen when the gum moves and reveals the base of the crown.
One of the advantages of these crowns is that they are cheaper than zirconia.
Zirconia implant crowns
This type of crowns on implants are usually recommended for the previous sector. These crowns are not only made of zirconia, they have a zirconium base and an external ceramic layer, combining these two materials this type of crowns gives us a better resistance capacity and greater aesthetics compared to other types of crowns.
The zirconia crowns they give us crowns with a very natural appearance, they offer us more translucency similar to the natural tooth, in addition to being a material with more biocompatibility with the periodontal tissues, being better tolerated by the gingiva. With this material we avoid risk of allergies of metals in people who have a predisposition since it does not cause any type of allergy.
In addition, as it lacks a metallic structure, we will not see gray edges over time and it will give us a more natural look and brighter than metal – ceramic crowns.
One of the advantages of zirconia crowns is that they are lighter and stronger, than metal-ceramic crowns, also with this type of material the adherence of dental plaque is limited.
A disadvantage of zirconia crowns is the price, which is much higher than metal-ceramic crowns.
Before placing the prosthesis on the implants, it is important that the implant is well osseointegrated on the bone. Once this osseointegration, it is necessary to go to the consultation so that the specialist can recommend which is the best material for us when making the prosthesis on implants.
To know what type of implant prosthesis is the most suitable for you, do not hesitate to come to Smile Care Plymouth Dental PlymouthHere we will look at the prosthesis that best suits your dental conditions, your needs and your economy. Taking into account the different possibilities to solve the problem of tooth loss, our Implantologist will develop a treatment plan to achieve the best aesthetics and a harmonious and natural smile.