Zirconium oxide: description, properties, application features and reviews

Prosthetic dentistry is applied everywhere, in all dental clinics. Materials for the manufacture of prostheses and techniques for their installation for today there is quite a large selection. The new zirconium oxide material impresses with its qualities and is considered to be the best for application in this field.

Zirconium oxide as a chemical compound

Zirconium oxide ZrO2 are clear, colorless crystals of special strength, insoluble in water and most solutions of alkalis and acids, but dissolves in the melts of alkalis, glasses, hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid. The melting point is 2715 ° C. Zirconium oxide exists in three forms: stable monoclinic, which occurs in nature, metastable tetragonal - is a part of zirconium ceramics, unstable cubic - is used in jewelry as an imitation of diamonds. In the industry, zirconium oxide has become widespread due to its superhardness, refractories, enamels, glass and ceramics are made of it.

Spheres of application of zirconium oxide

Zirconium oxide was discovered in 1789 and has not been used for a long time, its enormous potential was unknown to mankind. Only relatively recently, zirconium has become actively used in many areas of human activity. It is used in the automotive industry, for example, in the manufacture of brake discs of high-class cars. In the space industry, it is indispensable - thanks to it, ships can withstand incredible temperature effects. Cutting tools, pumps also contain zirconium oxide. It is also used in medicine, for example, as the head of artificial hip joints. And, finally, in dentistry, he can show all his best qualities in the role of dentures.

Zirconium oxide in dentistry

In modern dentistry, zirconium oxide is the most popular material for making dental crowns. It has spread in this area due to its qualities, such as hardness, strength, durability and preservation of form and appearance for a long time, biological compatibility with human tissues, beautiful appearance. Can serve as a material for single crowns, bridges, pins, fixed prostheses using implants.

Zirconium oxide, the price of which is higher than other types of dentures, is complicated in processing. This is the reason for the fact that such crowns are the most expensive. After the frame is created, a layer of white ceramic is applied on it, since the zirconium oxide itself does not have a color. Thanks to this ceramic can be applied very thin layer.

Non-metal crowns on zirconium oxide

In the production of crowns and bridges, zirconium oxide is quite a new material. Previously, the use of dentures on a metal frame was an absolute norm and a non-alternative option. But scientists conducted research and searched for the most suitable material with both an aesthetic appearance and biological compatibility with the tissues of the human body, strong and light. Such material was found, and this in nature is a rarity, in its qualities, it can be compared only with a diamond.

With the advent of zirconium crowns, patients can enjoy the unique aesthetics and beauty of prostheses, another thing is that not everyone can afford such a fortune. But due to its strength, it may be necessary to spend time and for the rest of your life - zirconium prostheses are incredibly durable and durable. Due to the fact that zirconium oxide itself is transparent, an effect of natural teeth is created together with a thin layer of ceramics. In addition, the crowns fit tightly to the gum, do not have the slightest gap, which creates an even more natural look.

Aesthetics plus strength

White steel - this is sometimes called ceramics on zirconium oxide. Crowns made of this material are 5 times stronger than all-ceramic dentures. What is the advantage of such strength? Before the appearance of zirconium oxide in the dentistry, the crowns were made using a metal frame on which a thick layer of ceramics was applied. Metal - for durability, ceramics - for aesthetics. But it is impossible to create a completely natural appearance in this way, in the place of contact between the prosthesis and the gum, a dark stripe is evidently visible (this effect is produced by a metal frame).

Zirconium oxide is not inferior in strength to the metal, and allows you to convey the natural color and transparency, like a natural tooth, without any superfluous color impregnations. It is similar in nature to the tissues of the tooth, it has light transmittance. The rays of light penetrating into the thickness of the crown are refracted and dissipated in a natural way, creating the effect of a healthy and beautiful smile. Dentists pick a color that does not differ from the color of the other healthy teeth when fitting a prosthesis, so the crown does not produce anything by merging with healthy teeth.

Biocompatibility

Metals, from which metal-ceramic prostheses are created, sometimes become the cause of allergic reactions in the patient, the appearance of inflammation and a long-term addiction to the prosthesis. Crowns based on zirconium oxide - ideal for people with hypersensitivity and intolerance to metals.

This is due to their such properties:

• Safe composition (do not contain silicon oxide).
• Immunity to acids, low solubility.
• Smooth surface does not allow to accumulate on the fly.
• Inertness to other materials present in the oral cavity.
• High thermal insulation ensures that there is no discomfort when taking hot or cold food.
• Minimal preparation of a healthy tooth. Strength of the material allows you to create thin frames, thereby grind the tooth to a minimum and save more healthy tooth tissue.

Contraindications

Zirconium oxide, whose properties are ideal for dentures, has almost no contraindications, except for such individual characteristics of the human body:

• A deep bite is a pathology of the jaw structure, in which the upper jaw covers a third of the lower teeth when the position is closed. A defect leads to excessive pressure on the teeth of the upper jaw and threatens with an increased erasure of the tooth enamel.
• Bruxism is an anomaly that shows teeth grinding, most often during sleep. The reason is not fully revealed, but many scholars agree that bruxism is the result of mental imbalance and stress. It leads to damage to the enamel and the erasure of the teeth.

Making crowns

Zirconium oxide is complicated in processing, so the production of crowns from it is a laborious process. It includes several stages:

1. The oral cavity is prepared, the tooth is grinded under the crown.
2. An impression is made of a turned tooth, a model of a future crown is made.
3. A laser scan of the model is carried out, the data is recorded in the computer for processing.
4. A special computer program simulates a frame, taking into account all the nuances (for example, shrinkage of the carcass after firing).
5. To the computer with the obtained data, a digital machine for grinding is connected and a frame is created from the zirconium blank.
6. The machined carcass is placed in a high-temperature furnace for sintering the mass and providing greater strength.
7. The finished frame is covered with a ceramic mass of a certain shade chosen for a particular patient.

Advantages of zirconium crowns before cermet

If you need prosthetics before the patient, the question arises as to which artificial teeth to choose. Zirconium oxide has a lot of advantages over other materials:

• Prosthetics with zirconium crowns do not require removal of the nerve.
• The lack of metal in the design, which eliminates such problems as an allergic reaction, a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Guarantee of the absence of development of diseases under the crown. Prosthesis is tightly attached to the gum, food particles and bacteria do not fall under it.
• Accuracy of the frame. Digital data processing guarantees incredible accuracy in the design.
• Individual selection of color. The finished prosthesis can not be visually distinguished from the rest, healthy teeth.
• Possibility to make a bridge of any length;
• Ease of construction.
• No response to cold and hot food. Wearing cermets can cause unpleasant sensations from high or low temperatures. Zirconium oxide does not give such a reaction.
• Absolutely natural appearance.
• The absence of a gray border in the area of contact with the gum.
• When preparing for prosthetics, there is no need to strongly grind the tooth.
• Crowns do not deform and retain their shape and shape for a long time.

Reviews

During a relatively short period of time, zirconium oxide has proved itself in dentistry, reviews on it are only positive. Having studied numerous comments in the network, it can be concluded that this material is ideal for the manufacture of dentures. During the entire period of application of zirconium oxide in prosthetics of teeth, there was no case of allergic reaction. Rehabilitation passes quickly and without complications, and the appearance of a smile only pleases the patient without causing psychological discomfort about the foreign body in the mouth. Special enthusiasm is felt by people wearing metal crowns with or without sputtering prior to the installation of zirconium prostheses. After all, they have something to compare. A few decades ago this kind of prosthetics was very popular, since there was no alternative for him at that time. Metal crowns not only delivered physical discomfort (allergies, reaction to temperatures), but also did not look aesthetically pleasing. After replacing them with zirconium, people are amazed at how an artificial tooth can be invisible to others and look so natural. This was made possible by the material of the future - zirconium oxide.