Are Zirconia Crowns Better than PFM?

Many dental practices will charge a higher fee for Zirconia crowns to the patients as this is often seen as a 'better' or 'private' option. I disagree.

PFM is a perfectly good option and is the ideal choice in many cases.

Here is an example. This patient wanted a crown on the upper right central to replace an old crown that didn't match the surrounding dentition.

The dentist wanted a metal free crown as this was perceived to be the best, however upon attendance at the surgery I noticed a metal post and core and advices that a PFM would be the best option.

The patient and dentist were concerned, but I insisted and this was the result.

A nice crown that matches.

Metal free are, by their nature, more translucent. In situations with natural teeth underneath this is fine, but with darker teeth or root treated teeth the cores can show through.

So long as the technician uses a ceramic margin that incorporates a fluorescent shoulder porcelain the aesthetics of the crown should be fine. Also required is around 1.5-2mm of labial reduction to ensure the opaque doesn't show through.

So are zirconia crowns better than PFM?, Well yes, sometimes and in with the right cases.

To recognise this fact as a laboratory we charge the SAME for all our crowns, this way there is never a temptation to chose one option over another. We believe this provides the best result for the patient.

When would you use a PFM over a Zirconia crown?