Full-Ceramic / Zirconia Crown

A full-ceramic or zirconia crown is a metal-free cap prized for its strength and lifelike translucency, making it a popular choice for front teeth and for patients who want a metal-free restoration. At Smile Studio the crown can be produced using digital LAVA milling for a precise fit. Like all crowns it restores a damaged or root-treated tooth, with the metal-free construction giving a natural appearance at the gum line.

Zirconia and full-ceramic crowns are metal-free restorations that combine high strength with excellent aesthetics. Because there is no metal substructure, light passes through them more naturally than through older metal-backed crowns, and there is no risk of a dark line appearing at the gum margin over time — which makes them especially suited to visible front teeth and to patients who prefer metal-free dentistry. Zirconia in particular is very hard-wearing and well tolerated. At Smile Studio the tooth is prepared under local anaesthetic and an impression or digital scan is taken, with the crown then milled and finished by the laboratory; the practice offers digitally milled LAVA crowns for a precise, computer-designed fit. A temporary crown protects the tooth in the meantime, and at a later visit the final crown is checked for fit, bite and shade before being cemented. Full-ceramic crowns are used to restore broken-down or root-treated teeth, to improve the appearance of discoloured or misshapen teeth and to finish implant treatment. For patients wanting a lower-cost interim option the clinic also offers a composite crown. The most suitable crown material for each tooth — balancing strength, appearance and position in the mouth — is discussed at consultation, and longevity is associated with good oral hygiene and regular reviews.