FAQ
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Q: Does zirconia ceramic degrade in strength intraorally in 5-10 years?
A: Yes, all-ceramic materials degrade in strengthover time - some more than others. Zirconia ceramic has an initial flexural strength of over 1200 MPa, so even if it degrades 5-10% or more, it is still significantly stronger than other ceramics.
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Q: Does it takes longer to remove a zirconia crown with a bur compared to a PFM crown?
A: Fine diamond burs can cut thru a zirconia crown just as fast as a PFM crown.
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Q: Does shading or coloring zirconia ceramic reduce the strength as compared to the uncolored zircona?
A: Weakening of colored zirconia ceramic copings has not been observed.
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A: Yes, the marginal fit of crowns and bridges fabricated from zirconia copings can be as good or better than PFM crowns and bridges.
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Q: Is the fit of a zirconia coping important since the zirconia ceramic is so strong?
A: The thicker the cement the weaker the all-ceramic restoration. Cements are not as rigid as zirconia ceramic, so a thicker cement layer will cause more flexural deformation of a ceramic core, increasing the potential for fracture.