Zirconium, Metal-Backed Porcelain, Full Ceramic Lamina Differences

There are various reasons for a tooth coating, such as caries, trauma, tooth loss, aesthetics. When choosing the material to be coated, it is very important why it is made and which teeth will be coated. The durability, aesthetic properties and cost of materials differ from each other.

Zirconium coatings are one of the most preferred materials today due to both their durable structure and aesthetic properties similar to natural teeth. They can be applied both in the front and back area. While the white colored zirconium element used in the substructure of zirconium coatings provides durability, light transmittance is very close to natural teeth and aesthetic properties can be achieved with feldspathic ceramics used in the superstructure. The compatibility of zirconium with the gums is very good.

Metal-backed porcelain veneers aesthetically have a more matte appearance than others. Although it exhibits sufficient aesthetic properties when used on the back teeth in many patients, an unnatural appearance may occur in the anterior region. Since the metal substructure is used, highly durable prostheses can be obtained. Over time, gum retraction may occur and, accordingly, metal reflection may occur on the edge of the gum. Using metal can cause bad breath.

Both a single tooth coating can be performed with porcelain and zirconium with metal support, and tooth deficiency can be eliminated with a bridge prosthesis. In both of them, teeth need to be reduced environmentally. Although there is no difference in terms of the measurement process taken, the production techniques are quite different. Zirconium coatings are produced with digital systems in such a way that the margin of error is minimal and they can be permanently attached to the teeth mostly in one session after production. Metal-backed porcelain, on the other hand, is produced with the manual labor of the technician, 2 separate rehearsals of the metal substructure and superstructure porcelain are required.

Laminates, the aesthetic properties of which are obtained only from very good ceramics, are usually made to patients who are not satisfied with their healthy teeth aesthetically. No substructure materials are used. Since they are very thin, it is usually necessary to make a very small amount of etching from the tooth. Lamina cannot be made when there is excessive material loss and caries in the tooth. The risk of fractures is higher in laminates whose durability increases after being glued to the tooth than in zirconium and metal-supported porcelain.

The cost of the coating to be made varies depending on the material to be used. The most affordable option is metal-backed porcelain, while the highest cost is full ceramic laminates. It is necessary to choose the most suitable material specifically for the person by evaluating the patient's expectation and the physician's recommendation.