Progressive Innovation: Dedicated New Shades for KATANA HTML

As advanced as the zirconia products on the market today are, laboratories still faced a guessing game when matching particular shades—until now.

Kuraray America, Inc., recently introduced KATANA HTML, a shade-specific multilayered zirconia that has the ability to be sintered in only 90 minutes. The new HTML offers the same flexural strength (1125 MPa) and translucency as the ML lineup it replaced, but with new advantages.

“Six shades just were not enough to accomplish all of the VITA classic shades, so we developed the new HTML to fill in those gaps,” says Steven Klein, Laboratory Sales Manager/Dental Division for Kuraray America, Inc. “HTML is now shade-specific to match up like our current STML offering. In addition to the normal A through D shades—minus B4, C4, and D4—there is also a bleach shade called NW.”

This specificity removes an element of guesswork for the laboratory. If a dentist requests an A3 shade, the laboratory can literally select an A3 disc.

“There is so much more consistency as a result of no longer just using a shade range,” Klein says. “This also allows laboratories to better utilize the automatic nesting feature that many CAD/CAM software programs offer; laboratories can achieve the best esthetic result by focusing their nesting on picking up all four layers of the disc design within the restoration profile.”

The 90-minute sintering time is unique to Kuraray in that it does not involve sacrificing any strength or esthetics.

“Speed-sintering is important, particularly for laboratories that want to provide same-day service to dentists in their area,” Klein says. “Same-day capabilities are such a big reason why dentists choose chairside milling, so we are trying to give laboratories an option that will help them stay competitive. Additionally, they can execute multiple sintering batches in the same day, increasing productivity.”

The KATANA material also can be hand polished, which saves time and money, among other benefits.

“The most expensive cost for any laboratory is labor,” Klein says. “The ability to hand-polish a restoration in 15 to 20 seconds and achieve a nice, glazed appearance without the need for firing creates significant cost savings. Also, the degradation of glaze typically is what causes the most wear to the opposing dentition, not the zirconia itself. By hand-polishing, you can save money on the process and minimize potential wear for the opposing teeth.”

While so many of today’s zirconia materials are similar, Kuraray uses its own proprietary zirconia powders, based on a foundation of more than 100 plus years of ceramic technology.

“Kuraray Noritake has figured out ways to handle porcelain and zirconia production with product benefits that other companies have not,” Klein says.

While the KATANA HTML is fairly new, the feedback that Kuraray has received thus far has been positive.

“Laboratories say they have been waiting for a shade-specific option,” Klein says. “They have milled some units and showed them to their dentists, and they love it as well.”

The ultimate goal, Klein says, is to make dental professionals’ jobs easier by providing as much consistency and high quality as possible.

“We aim to provide the consistency on a continual basis,” he says. “That is our hallmark. We want laboratory technicians to know that they can select our product and not worry about whether the shade will be close; it will match. It will ease their life.”