Three-unit bridge milled from IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime zirconium oxide. Given its high strength, this material is greatly suited for load-bearing regions and long-span bridges.
Once sintered, the restoration featured an impressively smooth progression of shade and translucency, even without applying any infiltration or staining. This is the result of the GT technology, in which high-translucency and high-strength zirconium oxide are combined in a single disc, using special filling technology and Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP).
The CIP-based microstructure contributes to the material's high accuracy of fit. The try-in proved it: the bridge showed an excellent fit right from the beginning.
A few brush strokes of staining material (IPS Ivocolor) were applied to create some customizations.
The restoration was then glaze fired. This impressive result was achieved efficiently using a very straightforward method.
Zirconia restorations can be incorporated with a conventional or self-adhesive technique, for instance in conjunction with SpeedCEM Plus, like in this case.
IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime has passed the test as a material for the posterior region with flying colours.
In the second test, IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime was used to restore a fracture that reached the cervical third of an anterior tooth no. 12. The tooth structure was weakened by a previous endodontic treatment and composite filling. In this case, the treatment team decided to use a monolithic crown made of IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime. With space being limited, the advantage of this option was that no veneering layer needed to be applied. In view of the patient's functional dynamics, emphasis was placed on using a material that offers high stability.
Fractured and endodontically treated tooth: prepared for a monolithic all-ceramic restoration.
The crown made of IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime showed an excellent accuracy of fit at the try-in. Given the increased opacity of the dentin area, it can be expected that any discoloured patches on the preparation will be reliably concealed, even if the thickness of the material is only 0.8 mm. Given the unfavourable functional dynamics of the present case, the material's high strength was seen as especially advantageous.
As the chroma decreases and the translucency increases towards the incisal area, the material reproduces the tooth structure in a seamless flowing progression, similar to the natural dentition. The crown was placed on a die model made of IPS Natural Die material to simulate the natural abutment. Final characterizations were applied using the staining technique and IPS Ivocolor materials.
The completed restoration was checked on the plaster model once more.
Self-adhesive cementation can be performed with resin cements such as SpeedCEM Plus.
The full-contour crown made of IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime and customized with the staining technique led to a convincing result, even in the exposed esthetic zone - top marks for the application in the anterior region.
Final verdict of Gennaro Narducci and Dr Federico Narducci:
"To give our patients the best possible treatment, we are interested in finding new promising treatment methods and materials and make an effort to keep abreast of the latest possibilities. We are especially passionate about providing highly esthetic metal-free restorations. As esthetic as lithium disilicate and as strong as zirconium oxide - IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime is a material that combines the best of two materials in one. The material stands out from comparable products on the market due to its innovative process technology (GT) and seemingly small but decisive details. In addition to the monolithic method shown here, veneering and cut-back techniques can also be used to complete the restorations. Customized and highly esthetic results can be achieved by simply characterizing the surfaces of the restorations using the IPS Ivocolor materials in the staining technique. The staining technique is ideal for cases in which function-related ceramic chipping cannot be ruled out or veneering is not possible due to a lack of space. Speed sintering and efficient finishing procedures enable the laboratory to deliver the restorations with short lead times - the high accuracy of fit minimizes the need for subsequent adjustments by grinding. On balance, this advanced all-ceramic solution meets our high standards perfectly."
