Newest Zirconias Offer High-End Esthetics With Strength

Key factors to evaluate when selecting products

Edgar Martinez, MDC

I have been milling zirconia for several years, and the materials that are available today are better than they have ever been. Whereas, in the past, I had used seven or eight different materials, now I have one that covers all of the translucency, strength, and color that my cases require. In our pursuit of the best possible combinations of esthetics and strength for the most demanding dentists, milled zirconia is an excellent option for any dental laboratory.

What are the important factors differentiating various zirconia products on the market?

Multilayered 5Y zirconia provides what I believe to be the best color, value, and translucency. A multilayered puck can have not only different layers of translucency but also different levels of strength; for example, the zirconia I use has a 1,300-MPa bottom layer that gradually becomes 1,027 MPa at the incisal edge. The color of the incisal edge is important to me as well; with older mulltilayered zirconias that I used previously, it was white-ish, but the one I use now has more translucency, which creates a nicer restoration.

What do you look for in a zirconia manufacturer?

I like to put a face to a product. I prefer purchasing zirconia from a representative who comes into my office with samples for me to try and then follows up to take my order, rather than from someone who emails me and asks me to order through a website. When you meet a person face-to-face who represents the product, they are there for you. You have their contact information, so they can provide any customer service you need. If technical support is necessary, they can point you in the right direction, whether for the zirconia itself or for the equipment you use for it. That all plays a large role when I am selecting a zirconia.

How much of the work has shifted from finishing to the design stages as the software and materials have advanced?

The technology has given us an opportunity to help ourselves with the various libraries that are now available. Once you are comfortable with the software, you can design a very nice restoration in an ideal position within a multilayered puck. You can determine nesting strategies based on whether you want a restoration to be brighter or more chromatic; simply move it higher or lower within the puck, and you can achieve esthetics that require much less finishing in order to achieve the esthetics you want.

Key Takeaway

I am very interested in the future of 3D printing permanent restorations, but currently, the most reliable material for strength and durability is milled zirconia.

About the Author

Edgar Martinez, MDC, is the owner of Simpatico Dental Studio in Plantation, Florida.