Reviews: I am beginning not to trust my new dentist. I am getting a four-crown, zirconia dental bridge. I looked at the dentist’s estimate, and it includes a porcelain upgrade. The dentist did not mention a porcelain upgrade to me, so before I call the office, will you please explain what this is? I want to compare her answer with yours. On a second matter, my last bridge was not zirconia, and I had lots of jaw pain and TMJ issues that finally got corrected. Are zirconia crowns less risky for TMJ? Thank you. Nick from NM
Nick,
Unfortunately, your dentist would need to explain what he means by a porcelain upgrade. The terminology is not standard to the dental profession but is a term your dentist uses.
Below are several possibilities.
- Your dentist uses a more expensive type of porcelain for your dental bridge.
- If the bridge is for front teeth, the charge could be for premium esthetic treatment to ensure your crowns and bridge look like natural teeth and match surrounding natural teeth. It is common for a dentist to charge more for front-tooth crowns than crowns in the back of your mouth.
- Perhaps a more expensive type of metal will be used as the framework for your crowns.
- It could be terminology for a metal-free dental bridge. You mentioned that you will receive a metal-free zirconia bridge.
- Your dental insurance plan may restrict your dentist’s reimbursement for a bridge. Using a term like porcelain upgrade could be your dentist’s way of recouping some expenses.
You should call the office and ask for an explanation. You can also ask if the office will send you an e-mail or something in writing explaining the service.
Do Zirconia Crowns Increase TMJ Risks?
Although you may read articles online with varying opinions about zirconia crowns and how they affect TMJ risks, your dentist is responsible for ensuring your new bridge is in harmony with your bite. If your dentist has advanced training in occlusion and bite, you should not experience recurring TMJ problems.
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I’ve been ill for almost two weeks, and my balance has been off. Four days ago, I fell in my bedroom and hurt my face and knee. The impact was not severe, but I have bruises on my left brow, cheek, and knee. Since I fell, I noticed some jaw pain that I hadn’t felt for five years. I previously had TMJ issues, but could a fall cause a flare-up? Khloe