Ceramill Zolid FX Helps Esthetics, Efficiency
Super-high-translucent zirconia is ideal for a variety of indications
By Alexander Wuensche, CDT
President, Zahntechnique Dental Lab, Miami, Florida
Key Takeaways
• Ceramill Zolid FX delivers the same translucency as lithium disilicate with enough strength to support tight occlusal situations and bridges.
• The material can be used for various indications, from single posterior crowns to implants.
• It can be used for monolithic restorations or layered with porcelain for more characteristics.
• It can be colored before sintering, which results in more color depth.
• The new FASTHETIX concept allows a crown to be colored in just 20 seconds.
Dental laboratories these days are under high pressure to fabricate dental restorations in a cost-efficient and timely manner. Besides the economic competition, we are facing a growing demand for highly esthetic restorations.
We are experiencing the esthetic revolution, because all-ceramic restorations are an increasingly prevalent trend, and due to new and modern materials we can accommodate even the most difficult situations with metal-free solutions. We are trying to fabricate these esthetic restorations in the most economic way possible, which is undoubtedly a monolithic restoration.
The biggest handicap in using zirconia to fabricate an esthetic and strong restoration is the lack of translucency. The restoration looks somewhat opaque if we do not layer any porcelain on top.
Many technicians choose lithium disilicate as their go-to material to achieve the best esthetic result, because of its very high translucency. The main limitations of lithium disilicate are strength and range of indications. Zirconia is stronger, and its range of indications is expanding
When we look at our daily bread-and-butter work, we find crowns and smaller bridges. For patients with high esthetic demands, I started working with a super-high-translucent zirconia: Ceramill Zolid FX from Amann Girrbach. This material offers the ideal combination of the benefits of both lithium disilicate and zirconia. It can be used for monolithic, highly esthetic single-crown restorations, as well as for bridges. It delivers the same translucency as lithium disilicate but provides enough strength to support tight occlusal situations and bridges.
We are using Ceramill Zolid FX for everything, from single crowns in the anterior and posterior areas to cement- or screw-retained implants.
For single posterior crowns, this material is especially effective for more translucent shades, for which a typical full-contour zirconia would be too opaque. In the anterior area, the material works two ways: I am able to use it as a monolithic restoration and still have a beautiful esthetic result, or I can layer porcelain for more characteristics on top.
I find that the biggest difference when comparing Ceramill Zolid FX with lithium disilicate is that the zirconia can be colored before sintering. This allows for the Ceramill liquids to saturate very deeply. The result is more color depth and therefore a very natural esthetic look, because the color does not sit only on the surface of the restoration; it is actually inside. This is a big advantage especially for implant restorations, because we must be very detailed and precise with color and translucency in the abutment area. Two coloring options are available: a more detailed concept geared toward highly detailed restorations, and Amann Girrbach’s new FASTHETIX concept, which allows a crown to be colored in just 20 seconds.
Economically, I have learned that Ceramill Zolid FX allows me to create more restorations monolithically, which saves time and money. Additionally, highly esthetic layered restorations are quicker and easier to realize, because fewer bakes and less porcelain are necessary to receive a beautiful result.
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions contained in the preceding material are and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dental Technology.
Manufacturer Information
Amann Girrbach
amanngirrbach.com
877-960-4393
