Zirconia Crown
A crown with no metal substructure, whose translucency is close to that of a natural tooth.
A crown is a shell fitted over a tooth that has lost a great deal of its substance. Zirconia means that the substructure of this shell is made of white ceramic instead of metal.
The difference from metal-backed porcelain
Translucency. A natural tooth transmits a certain amount of light. A metal substructure does not; this is why metal-backed crowns look lifeless and flat from certain angles.
The gum margin. With metal-backed crowns, a grey line appears at the margin as the gum recedes over time. This does not happen with zirconia.
Allergy. Sensitivity to metal alloys is rare but possible. Zirconia does not carry that risk.
Is it suitable everywhere
In the front region it is superior aesthetically. On back teeth, where chewing forces are very strong or where there is clenching (bruxism), brittleness must be taken into account — in that case monolithic zirconia or a different material may be preferred.
How the shade is chosen
The shade of the crown is selected by holding a shade guide against your neighbouring teeth. This is done against a neutral grey background in natural light; coloured surroundings mislead the eye.
The right result is not the whitest shade but the one that matches your own tooth. When a single tooth is being restored, success means it is not noticed.