Zirconium: Is it everything it’s cracked up to be?  Since entering the dental scene, Zirconium has been accepted by the industry with open arms. It has become a popular alternative to metal ceramic restorations for several reasons. It’s easily milled in the green stage and sintered to clinically acceptable tolerances with the near strength of metal. It is white in color as well as its oxides, rather than grey brown to dark grey of metal ceramics. Zirconium oxide represents a large segment of ceramic restorations now performed. Strong enough for bridgework, zirconium can withstand the oral environment seemingly well.

Zirconium oxide has replaced metal ceramics in many instances; however, it cannot function in all indications required for dental restorative needs. It does not lend itself well for precision attachments nor longer span bridgework. It cannot replace metal completely but does work quite well in many situations. The highly reflective surface makes it undesirable in some aesthetic situations.

It has performed quite well clinically, especially with regard to strength of the frameworks. However, there have been reports of some problems with restorations fracturing whereby the veneering ceramic fractures from the framework. The low frequency of this problem does not warrant discontinuing the use of zirconium frameworks, but does occur often enough that the topic deserves attention.