Zirconia That Delivers Esthetics and Maxes Your Profit In the Practice

mm Written by Andrew Sedler

Function and Artistry Optimized with Zir-MAX.M e®  (translucent zirconia)

The Case for Zir-MAX.M e®

When clinicians are selecting a restorative material, the necessity for a combination of durability and esthetics is often the driving force behind the decision-making process. There are many choices on the market; however, not all zirconia restorations are created equal.

Zirconia is the strongest all-ceramic material available today and is used for a range of restorative needs. However, lab factors like design and finish, as well as the specific zirconia material can impair the longevity, cosmetics, and seating time of the restoration. All of these factors can impact patient satisfaction and practice profit. Having a strong collaborative relationship with an experienced dental laboratory can go a long way toward facilitating the most suitable selection for individual cases and your practice’s routines. For example, does your laboratory have the most updated and comprehensive information about the availability, uses, and features of new more translucent zirconias like Zir-MAX.M e®?

Why consider Monolithic zirconia in the first place?

 

Durability

The weak link in all porcelain-fused-to-metal or all-ceramic systems is the layering porcelain that typically has a flexural strength around 100 MPa. Monolithic zirconia is a full zirconia restoration that does not incorporate vulnerable layering porcelain into the equation. Therefore it is stronger than all porcelain fused to any substructure material, metal or all-ceramic.

Durable but can it be esthetic?

Some well-known restorations have compressive strengths of 1200 MPa but are extremely opaque and monochromatic. With 1000 MPa flexural strength, the new translucent zirconia (Zir-MAX.M e®.) more than meets the strength requirements in posterior dentistry. That strength is 36% stronger than the strongest pressed ceramic and over ten times stronger than feldspathic porcelains.

Excellent Esthetics

With color formulas developed after more than 7 years of refinement, this zirconia formulation demonstrates 29% more translucency than other full zirconia restorations. Additionally, fine details with opalesence ceramic stains maintain the vitality of the restoration’s esthetics.

Zir-MAX.M e® balances strength and durability with esthetics.

The above features make Zir-MAX.M e® the most potent balance between esthetics and durability of any restoration available. Since this Next Generation of Zirconia is more translucent than previous monolithic zirconia restorations, it is positioned primarily for restorations in the smile zone where additional strength is desired. However, many clinicians use these restorations for posterior restorations, when a higher standard for esthetics is desired, and the strength of monolithic zirconia is required.

Features of Zir-MAX.M e®

  • Optimized microstructure provides higher translucency: zirconia with such clarity that stumps shades matter.
  • Significant flexural strength, more than 1000 Mpa
  • Indications include inlays, onlays, single restorations, both anterior and posterior, and up to 4 unit bridges - to the first molar.
  • Offers excellent long-term stability with no allergenic potential.
  • Full contour restorations or substructures for layering.
Zir-Max.M e - Figure 1
Figure 1

The New Zirconia Workflow

Cementing and bonding zirconia is a crucial factor in restoration survival and patient peace of mind. Clinicians need to balance ease in preparation, patient-approved esthetics, and predictable longevity through an approach that supports practice efficiency and income. Unfortunately, there is often conflicting information on how to handle advanced materials and techniques most effectively.

In considering your specific zirconia choice, take advantage of your Burbank Dental Lab technical advisor as a resource. They have specific knowledge of material properties, and access to digital technology.

Zir-MAX.M e® in Your Practice

 

1. Simplicity of Cementation

Zir-MAX.M e® can be placed with either conventional cements or bonded, making it fit into whatever procedures work best for you in your clinical judgment. When bonding, use adhesive systems with dual cure resins. When cementing use a low expansion cement, like resin-modified glass ionomers.

2. Preparation

It is not necessary to use a shoulder preparation. Feather-edge preparations are acceptable. Ideal minimum margin preparation is 0.3 mm chamfer, but all margin preparations may be used, including a full shoulder.

  • 1 mm axial wall reduction
  • 1 mm cingulum / occlusal reduction required.
  • Note: As with any all-ceramic, no sharp or right angles.

Adjustment Tips

  • When adjustments are necessary for fit, adjust prepped tooth.
  • When occlusal adjustments are required on the monolithic zirconia material, use a diamond with water. Most all rotary instrument companies carry specific diamonds that they recommend for adjusting zirconia.
  • It is crucial to polish adjusted areas to a high shine polish, using zirconia polishing cups or points.
  • Avoid carbide use

Zir-MAX.M e® is a good material choice for patients that desire a bright color/high-value all-ceramic but want natural translucency as well, especially when the patient requires more strength. Zirconia can be fabricated with very high-value effects but still provide an esthetic translucent incisal edge. Many other ceramic material choices can gray unsatisfactorily as translucency is added; zirconia is less inclined to develop undesirable grayness. This facilitates the creation of a “Hollywood White” with a natural incisal translucent effect. The additional translucency of  Zir-MAX.M e®  over previous zirconia materials yields a more vital restoration while achieving the brightness of a Hollywood Smile.

ZirMax.Me - Burbank Dental Lab

This patient had an uneven smile line, cross-bite, and stained broken down composites. He desired to have white natural looking teeth with an improved smile line. The patient also has a bruxing problem, so it was essential to correct interferences and restore with a durable material. Zir-MAX.M e®  was chosen as the restorative material for its strength (1000MPa) and because it can be fabricated with both natural color and surface color to achieve very natural characteristics. The increase in the translucency of this next generation zirconia lends itself well to more vibrant colors while delivering an increased translucent appearance.

Before Zir-Max.M e cropped After Zir-Max.M e cropped

Balance Between Esthetics and Durability

Zir-MAX.M e®, Burbank Dental Lab’s proprietary monolithic translucent zirconia, is one of America’s leading full-zirconia restorations. Burbank Dental Lab did not just want to offer a bland zirconia restoration—it had to be distinctively more esthetic and consistent than the mass-produced zirconia crowns out on the market. This project initiated an ongoing global search for the best zirconia material, as well as for design and milling systems that would provide the characteristics desired by dental clinicians. As a result, Zir-MAX.M e® was born and has received an enthusiastic response because of its consistent fit, increased translucency, beautiful color blends, and vitality.

Indications

Crowns, and bridges, and implants. Zir-MAX.M e®  may be used in all applications where PFM would be used. Bridges may be fabricated posteriorly to the first molar. Single or bridge restorations may be used for all positions in the mouth. However, 2nd molars are better serviced by our high strength Zir-MAX.M ® (Compressive strength of up to 1200 MPa). This product is also great for people with high esthetic demand and those who deal with bruxism.

Zir-MAX-L (layered zirconia) may be used for anterior cosmetic units. Restorations can also be mixed monolithic/full contour zirconia and layered units, to accommodate mixed strength and cosmetic needs.

Affordable

Zir-MAX.M e® is positioned explicitly for where today’s dental practices live.

Zir-MAX.M e® fits perfectly into a quadrant dentistry, single tooth niche. With 1000 MPa of strength it is an excellent restoration for premolar and molar restorations, efficiently replacing many PFM and even full gold applications. Due to the high level of esthetics, it can also be used in the anterior smile zone when extra strength is required, and may also fit well into clinical needs for lower anterior restoration requirements for minimal reduction, and good wear characteristics. Zir-MAX.M e® restorations are the ideal restoration for your patients that demand esthetics and durability but are on today’s budgets.

Burbank Dental Lab continues to lead by pushing the envelope and striving for an ever-increasing level of excellence in both esthetics and clinical accuracy.

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