Zirconia Crowns & Bridges
High-Strength Zirconia Restorations for Clinical Reliability
Summit-Horizon Dental Lab fabricates zirconia crowns and bridges for dentists, supporting single units, multi-unit bridges, implant restorations, and full-arch frameworks. We offer St. Louis metro pickup and serve practices nationwide through digital and traditional case submission.
Why Dentists Use Zirconia for Crowns & Bridges
Dentists use zirconia crowns and bridges because the material offers an unmatched balance between function and esthetics:
- Fracture resistance: high flexural strength for posterior crowns, long-span bridges, and bruxism cases
- Esthetic options: translucent and multilayer zirconia for anterior and cosmetic cases
- Versatility: applicable to single units, bridges, implant restorations, and full-arch frameworks
- Consistency: CAD/CAM fabrication supports predictable margins, fit, and occlusion
Zirconia’s combination of strength, esthetics, and versatility makes it one of the most commonly selected materials for fixed restorations in modern dentistry.
Zirconia in Modern Restorative Dentistry
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, single crowns are among the most common restorative procedures in the United States—underscoring the need for durable, esthetic materials like zirconia to support predictable clinical outcomes.
Types of Zirconia Crowns & Bridges
High-translucent zirconia balances strength and esthetics, making it suitable for cases where appearance matters but durability is still required. It is commonly selected for anterior restorations and select posterior applications where full-contour strength is not mandatory.
Best applications:
- Anterior crowns
- Short-span bridges
- Select posterior crowns (non-bruxism cases)
- Implant-supported frameworks requiring enhanced esthetics
Clinical considerations:
- Higher translucency than traditional zirconia
- Slightly reduced flexural strength compared to full contour zirconia
- Best used when esthetics are prioritized over maximum load resistance
Our high-translucent zirconia crowns and bridges provide long-term reliability, outstanding esthetics, reduce remakes, and ensure confidence.
TRANSLUCENT ZIRCONIA
Translucent zirconia combines strength with natural esthetics, making it an excellent option for anterior crowns, cosmetic smile enhancements, and cases where appearance matters as much as function. Summit Horizon offers two distinct options —
Porcelain Layered Zirconia and
Full Contour Zirconia — so dentists can select the solution that best fits their clinical goals.
Porcelain Layered Zirconia
Our porcelain layered zirconia crowns and bridges are hand-crafted and provide the highest esthetics and realistic lifelike translucency, seamless shading, and precise contouring for patients who demand the most natural smile results.
Indications for use:
- Anterior single crowns and bridges
- Cosmetic smile enhancements
- Minimally invasive restorative dentistry
- Patient-specific customization
Advantages:
- Exceptional esthetics for high-visibility smile zones
- Conservative preparations that preserve tooth structure
- Predictable shade matching and blending with adjacent teeth
This option is commonly selected for high-visibility anterior cases where lifelike esthetics and precise shade matching are required.
Full contour zirconia crowns and bridges offer the balance of strength and esthetics needed for challenging cases. Fabricated from premium zirconium dioxide, these restorations withstand functional stress while maintaining a natural appearance.
Indications for use:
- Single crowns (anterior and posterior)
- Multi-unit bridges
- Complex functional cases requiring both esthetics and durability
- Ideal for bruxism cases
- Customized restorations
Advantages:
- Strong enough for posterior function, esthetic enough for anterior cases
- Fully customizable for shade, contour, and translucency
- Reliable fit that reduces chairside adjustment time
This material is well suited for functional cases that require durability without sacrificing acceptable esthetics.
Multilayer zirconia restorations feature natural gradient shading from cervical to incisal, delivering unmatched esthetics without sacrificing strength. At Summit Horizon Dental Lab, we fabricate multilayer zirconia crowns and bridges using precision CAD/CAM workflows and careful hand finishing.
Indications for Use
- Anterior crowns in the smile zone
- 2–3 unit anterior bridges
- Full-arch esthetic restorations
- High-visibility cases requiring natural shading and translucency
Advantages
- Seamless color transition for natural blending
- Superior esthetics compared to single-shade zirconia
- Reliable flexural strength suitable for both anterior and select posterior cases
- Excellent light transmission for lifelike results
Multilayer zirconia is frequently chosen for cosmetic cases where natural shading and smooth color transitions are essential.
Submit a Zirconia Crown or Bridge Case
Submit digital scans or traditional impressions for zirconia crowns and bridges, with local pickup available in the St. Louis metro and shipping nationwide.
Zirconia Crown & Bridge FAQ
Do you accept zirconia cases from dentists outside Missouri?
No. While we are based in St. Louis, Missouri, we fabricate zirconia crowns and bridges for practices across the U.S. Cases can be submitted through digital scans or mailed impressions.
How does Summit-Horizon ensure consistent zirconia results for DSOs?
Our standardized CAD/CAM workflows and strict quality control protocols ensure reliable esthetics and function across multiple practice locations, reducing remakes and chairside adjustments.
Which zirconia option is best for anterior esthetics?
For high-esthetic anterior cases, Summit Horizon typically recommends Multi-Layer, High Translucency, and PFZ depending on patient-specific and preparation requirements.
How long do zirconia crowns usually last?
Zirconia crowns are among the most durable fixed restorations, with a typical lifespan of 10–15 years or more when fabricated and seated correctly. Summit Horizon’s quality control helps ensure restorations perform reliably over the long term.
Is zirconia stronger than e.max?
Yes. Zirconia offers higher flexural strength than lithium disilicate (e.max), making it better suited for posterior crowns and multi-unit bridges. E.max, however, is often preferred for esthetic anterior restorations.
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