Cubic Zirconia: Esthetic Potential, Physical Properties, and effect of firing conditions on translucency
Zirconia is one of the fastest growing materials in dentistry. Original versions of Zirconia developed for dentistry are very opaqueish and were designed to be layered with porcelain to improve esthetics. Problems arose where frequently porcelain would chip or delaminate causing replacement. Second generation Zirconia which was “slightly” more translucent” allowed for minimally acceptable esthetic molar use as a monolithic restoration. Recently, versions of Zirconia have been released that are much more translucent than the original Zirconia, with claims of esthetic potential to be use in mono-lithic form for incisors, and are also claimed to be as translucent as the translucent forms of well accepted lithium disilicates. This new zirconia material has an altered structure and increased amount of “dopant” that increases the amount of the cubic form of crystal.
- Explore some of the available products of this newer translucent Zirconia.
- Compare it to older versions of zirconia, compare physical properties of different zirconias.
- Discuss potential long term clinical situations related to physical properties, compare translucency differences from old and new materials, and demonstrate the very significant effect on final esthetics based on firing conditions.
Dr. McLaren is a Prosthodontist, Professor of clinical dentistry, and director of Post Graduate Esthetic Dentistry at the UCLA school of Dentistry. He is the director of the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry, a full time didactic and clinical program for graduate dentists. He is also the founder and director of the UCLA/LACC Master Dental Ceramist program. The post graduate program is a full time master ceramist program for dental technicians featuring extensive experience with the newest esthetic restorative systems. . Dr. McLaren maintains a private practice limited to prosthodontics and esthetic dentistry in which he does all of his own ceramics.
He is actively involved in many areas of prosthodontic and materials research and has authored or co-authored over 80 articles. He is performing ongoing clinical research on various restorative systems. He has presented numerous lectures, hands-on clinics and postgraduate courses on ceramics and esthetics across the nation and internationally. He recently published a book, on his ceramic techniques and features dental photographic art, entitled “The Art of Passion: Ceramics, Teeth, Faces, and Places.”
Nathaniel Lawson received his DMD and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UAB. He currently serves as the Program Director for a Master’s in Biomaterials graduate program and the Director of the Division of Biomaterials at the UAB School of Dentistry. His research interest include both the clinical evaluation of dental materials in the UAB Research Clinic and the mechanical testing of materials in the laboratory.
