TRINIA™: The Next Generation of CAD/CAM and Metal-Free Restorations
Like many dental technicians facing the rising costs of alloys, Bob Vasile, MDT, was looking for a solution to metal-free restorations with an economic advantage. Shofu’s TRINIATM is the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) alternative that the 30-year laboratory veteran decided to implement to his lab.
Engineered to meet the broad indications of clinical use, including fixed prostheses, bridges, dentures, and partial dentures, this resilient and ultralight biocompatible fiber-reinforced resin material provides a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to metal bars cast in semiprecious and precious metals or milled in zirconia and titanium.
“This material was developed about 6 years ago, and my team started using TRINIA CAD/CAM discs and blocks almost immediately. At first, we primarily used it for resin bars but have since expanded the indications to bridgework, copings, partial dentures, and full dentures, making this material the optimal choice,” says Vasile, who is the manager of CAD/CAM and laboratory services at Bicon Digital Prosthetics in Boston, Massachusetts.
TRINIA can be used in both the anterior or posterior areas, and it can be conventionally cemented or adhesively bonded. One of TRINIA’s greatest attributes is its high flexural strength of 393 MPa and compressive strength of 374 MPa (parallel) and 339 MPa (perpendicular). “Because this composite is made from a multidirectional interlacing of fiberglass and resin in several layers, it is very flexible and durable,” Vasile stresses. Modulus is also another feature that adds to the superiority of this material, allowing for excellent tooth-like reproduction.
TRINIA is an outstanding choice uniquely positioned for bridges, as the connector is 7 mm versus the zirconia standard of 9 mm. The small connector requirement allows for more opportunities to restore in challenging circumstances. Not only does TRINIA provide strength, modulus, and durability, but also it has the merits of the veneering composite being a nano-hybrid offering a very smooth finish. “With the unique characteristics of the nano-hybrid material, TRINIA does not retain plaque like other materials. Therefore, it lasts longer than most other materials,” Vasile emphasizes.
To meet the broad indications of clinical use, TRINIA was designed with the appropriate mechanical suitability and appropriate esthetic characteristics. Versatility in performance with predictable results is but one of the characteristics. In a computer numerical control (CNC) milling capability, TRINIA is available in 98-mm circular discs, 89-mm D-shaped discs, and 40-mm and 55-mm blocks. This versatility cannot be overlooked, nor can its exclusive ability to be milled dry or wet. Nano-diamond burs are essential for successful milling, which allows for TRINIA to be used in most of the mills available on the market. “Because this is fiberglass, I like that I can mill either wet or dry with nano-diamonds. I prefer to use TRINIA with dry milling systems because the diamonds outputs such a fine powder. Hence, the cleanup is very quick and easy, and you get a nicer product,” Vasile notes.
As for the veneering material, because no firing is required for TRINIA, composite-based materials, such as CERAMAGE® from Shofu, are used to provide lifelike reproduction of esthetics, function, and clinical expectations. The veneering composite offers flexibility in accomplishing esthetic requirements along with clinical properties that exceed those of porcelain.
The strength in the most demanding of clinical circumstances has validated Vasile’s opinion about this product. “With TRINIA, I know I can create premium, durable, and resilient products at very reasonable costs,” he concludes.
Shofu Dental Corporation
1225 Stone Drive
San Marcos, CA 92078
800-827-4638
shofu.com
