What is the difference between a metal-ceramic crown and a zirconia crown?

In fact, today, there are two most common types of crowns: metal-ceramic and zirconium dioxide. They differ in the material from which they are made. Metal-ceramic crowns have a metal base on which a ceramic layer is applied. Zirconium crowns, are made of white metal, which is highly durable and biocompatible. Most patients are familiar with only one difference between these types of crowns, namely the price. As a rule, a metal-ceramic crown is 20-30% cheaper than a zirconia crown, depending on the dentistry. But is it worth overpaying for a zirconium crown, what exactly are its advantages? For this purpose, we have prepared a comparison table for you.

Distinctions	Zirconium	Metalloceramics
Service life	20 years	10 years
The risk of chipping (pieces break off) is much less in zirconia, as ceramics in contact with metal and gums can fail due to the unevenness of the ceramics	It’s better	Worse
There is no metal in zirconia, so allergenicity (sour feeling in the mouth or redness of the gums) is reduced. Zirconia is even used to make joints. Recommended for allergy sufferers and people with GI disorders	It’s better	Worse
Lightfastness. Metal-ceramic absorbs light and darkens because of the metal inside. Zirconium absorbs and reflects light evenly	It’s better	Worse
Less grinding of your own tooth when placing a crown	It’s better	Worse
Tight fit to the tooth and gingiva as there is no shrinkage (gray cantle at the tooth neck)	It’s better	Worse
Low heat conductivity (less reaction to hot and cold)	It’s better	Worse
When placing a zirconia crown, it is possible to leave the tooth alive without pulping the tooth	It’s better	Worse
For smokers, a zirconia crown does not absorb tar and other substances, so it does not discolor.	It’s better	Worse
Zirconia crown high aesthetics (very similar to live teeth)	It’s better	Worse
Cheaper	Worse	It’s better

As we can see, zirconia crowns are in almost all cases much better than metal-ceramic crowns, but there are rare cases when it is worth installing metal-ceramics. This is mainly due to the instability of the structure. Metal-ceramic, when working all in 4, can sometimes be more reliable.
Another very important factor in choosing a crown is the quality of the material used. For example, a zirconia crown made of Chinese zirconium dioxide will have completely different characteristics than the same crown made of German material.
The orthopedists of Bas dent dent dentistry will choose the most suitable crowns for you at an affordable price. In addition, we have regular promotions and discounts.