Prosthetics
Ceramic crowns and bridges
Ceramic or porcelain crown (cover) is a “cap”, i.e. a prosthetic implant which is the ideal solution in situations where your natural tooth is so damaged that the fillings cannot completely cover the lost part.
Crowns are recommended to restore the function of the tooth in case of its more serious decay due to a significant caries. It is also recommended for endodontically treated teeth that usually are usually greatly damaged after the treatment, which is why the tooth should primarily be protected.
Ceramics has become the gold standard in dental prosthetics due to the number of good properties that other materials did not have.
It is characterized by high strength, it can withstand high temperature changes, and it is also resistant to chemical influences and corrosion.
Most importantly, it is biocompatible, does not cause allergies, and aesthetically maximizes the appearance of a real tooth.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns
The base of the crown is made of a metal alloy which is completely covered in porcelain so that the metal part is invisible. Metals used for the preparation of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are gold alloys, alloys of other metals (e.g. palladium, titanium) or steel-based alloys (e.g. nickel or chrome). The main advantage of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns is that the metal in the base gives a distinct firmness. Also, due to their firmness and consistency, they are often used for covering the premolars and molars and to withstand the strong bite forces. White gold which is a biocompatible material is recommended to clients who are allergic to other metals.
Total porcelain crowns
Total porcelain crowns meet high aesthetic requirements of clients. Porcelain crowns completely mimic the optical properties of natural teeth, such as translucence, transparency, and luminescence resulting in a crown which is impossible to differ from a natural tooth. Also, since it does not contain metal, it does not influence the gum color change nor does metal shine through the tooth. Total porcelain crowns are recommended for front teeth in order to preserve their high level of aesthetics.
Zirconia-ceramic crowns
Zirconia is the newest high-quality material used for the preparation of crowns and bridges. Zirconia-ceramic crowns and bridges are characterized by biocompatibility and precision, while preserving the natural tooth aesthetics. Since the mechanical resistance is already achieved at the thickness of 0.4 mm, this requires less grinding of the natural tooth grinding before placing the crown. Due to a precise preparation of zirconia-ceramic crowns, oral hygiene is easier, and gum irritation is reduced (due to the high level of polishing and the precision of the crown margins). The advantage of these crowns is the impossibility of the occurrence of the so-called 'black edge' caused by gum recession because there is no metal in the construction.
Iva Slade Knežević, DMD
Iva Slade Knežević, DMD, has developed her love for dental medicine by growing up in a medical family. She graduated almost a decade ago and she has developed expertise through work in prestigious private polyclinics, which emphasize individual approach to each patient with the highest quality result.