Color- and strength-graded zirconia: Strength, light transmission, and composition.

Statement Of Problem: Natural teeth are graded in terms of translucency and strength. Graded zirconia materials are now available with a higher yttria content on the top or in the enamel zone to increase surface translucency and a lower yttria content on the bottom or in the dentin zone to increase strength. Such materials could provide multiple advantages over uniform materials and reduce the need for porcelain veneering in anterior artificial crowns; however, studies on the properties of these materials are lacking.

A step-by-step technique to create an ideal color match, form, and surface texture to all-ceramic restorations.

Objectives: Although the presence of a chairside CAD/CAM system in the dental office saves time and cost, it deprives the dentist from the dental technologist' skills and experience. The dentist now has to gain and acquire knowledge and skills about how to finish, characterize, stain, and glaze ceramic restorations. The main objectives of this article is to teach novel and reproducible techniques for surface color, texture, glaze and polish for either the chairside or laboratory fabricated indirect ceramic restoration.

Smile Management: A Discussion with the Masters.

Smile design is an ongoing challenge in both dentistry and facial cosmetics surgery. Herein, some very common smile design scenarios are shared with six world known masters. Each case will be reviewed by 2 cosmetic dentists, 2 periodontists, and 2 oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Influence of yttria content and surface treatment on the strength of translucent zirconia materials.

Statement Of Problem: Newly developed translucent zirconia materials have been used for anterior monolithic complete coverage restorations. Surface treatments can improve adhesion, as well as decrease or increase the strength of ceramics. However, information on the influence of surface treatments on the strength of translucent zirconias is sparse.

Analysis of color and fluorescence of different dentin ceramics and natural human dentin's to enhance shade matching.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the color and fluorescence of five dentin ceramic systems with human dentin to enhance shade matching.

Materials And Methods: Five dentin ceramic systems, including Vita, GC, Creation, Noritake, and Ivoclar in 16 shades, and 12 human dentins, were prepared. The fluorescence and color coordinates were measured at 380-780 nm.

The Photoshop Smile Design Technique.

Esthetic or cosmetic dentistry has become one of the main areas of dental practice emphasis and growth for the past several decades. Many articles have been written and courses taught over the years on concepts of smile design to develop a treatment plan for an esthetic outcome for the patient. The beauty of digital smile design is that patients can see the potential esthetic outcomes of treatment options in minutes.

Comparison of the mechanical properties of translucent zirconia and lithium disilicate.

Statement Of Problem: Three mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) possesses excellent mechanical properties but is relatively opaque. Five mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia polycrystal (5Y-ZP) offers improved translucency, but many of its clinical properties have not been compared with those of 3Y-TZP and lithium disilicate.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the flexural strength, translucency parameter, bond strength, and enamel and material wear of 5Y-ZP (Katana UTML) with 3Y-TZP (Katana HT) and lithium disilicate (e.

Effect of tooth substrate and porcelain thickness on porcelain veneer failure loads in vitro.

Statement Of Problem: Bonded porcelain veneers are widely used esthetic restorations. High success and survival rates have been reported, but failures do occur. Fractures are the commonest failure mode.

New High-Translucent Cubic-Phase-Containing Zirconia: Clinical and Laboratory Considerations and the Effect of Air Abrasion on Strength.

Fabricating all-ceramic restorations with minimal or no application of a secondary phase while maintaining esthetics has been a sought-after goal of the dental profession. The objective has been development of a monolithic material with optical properties similar to the natural tooth without the need for layering porcelain. This article examines some of the newer cubic zirconia materials used in a monolithic form.

A Technique Using Calibrated Photography and Photoshop for Accurate Shade Analysis and Communication.

This article reviews the critical aspects of controlling the shade-taking environment and discusses various modalities introduced throughout the years to acquire and communicate shade information. Demonstrating a highly calibrated digital photographic technique for capturing shade information, this article shows how to use Photoshop® to standardize images and extract color information from the tooth and shade tab for use by a ceramist for an accurate shade-matching restoration.

Updating Classifications of Ceramic Dental Materials: A Guide to Material Selection.

The indications for and composition of today's dental ceramic materials serve as the basis for determining the appropriate class of ceramics to use for a given case. By understanding the classifications, composition, and characteristics of the latest all-ceramic materials, which are presented in this article in order of most to least conservative, dentists and laboratory technicians can best determine the ideal material for a particular treatment.

Vonlays: a conservative esthetic alternative to full-coverage crowns.

Porcelain veneers have long been a popular restorative option that have evolved into a well-accepted treatment that can be fabricated in various ways. Onlays are another common treatment modality used in contemporary dentistry to restore large areas of decay and to replace old restorations. With the availability of newer high-strength materials such as lithium disilicate and processing technologies like CAD/CAM and heat pressing, dental professionals are now able to produce highly esthetic, high-strength restorations that blend seamlessly with the natural dentition while also withstanding posterior occlusal forces.

Clinical effectiveness of flash teeth whitening, a novel method for teeth bleaching.

Flash teeth whitening is a two-step, once-daily method for whitening teeth that combines the use of a fine aerosol mist of a stabilized, concentrated hydrogen-peroxide solution and a saliva-activated, effervescent oral powder that is poured directly onto the tongue. An in-vivo study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the flash teeth whitening method at three timed intervals in a 3-week period. Objective and subjective tooth-shade rating methods were used at baseline, after initial treatment, and after 1 and 3 weeks of once-daily use.

Wear of enamel opposing zirconia and lithium disilicate after adjustment, polishing and glazing.

Objectives: To compare the wear and opposing enamel wear of adjusted (A); adjusted and polished (AP); and adjusted and glazed (AG) zirconia and lithium disilicate.

Methods: Specimens (n=8) were prepared of lithium disilicate (A, AP, and AG), zirconia (A, AP, and AG), veneering porcelain, and enamel (control). Surface roughness was measured for each ceramic.

The Photoshop Smile Design technique (part 1): digital dental photography.

The proliferation of digital photography and imaging devices is enhancing clinicians' ability to visually document patients' intraoral conditions. By understanding the elements of esthetics and learning how to incorporate technology applications into clinical dentistry, clinicians can predictably plan smile design and communicate anticipated results to patients and ceramists alike. This article discusses camera, lens, and flash selection and setup, and how to execute specific types of images using the Adobe Photoshop Smile Design (PSD) technique.

Retrieval of a defective cement-retained implant prosthesis.

As the popularity of cement-retained implant prosthetics grows, so, too, does the need for retreatment. The predictable removal of cement-retained implant crowns has often proven difficult due to a multitude of variables, including locating the access and stripped screws. The techniques discussed in this article address these issues, thus simplifying the retreatment process.

Bonded functional esthetic prototype: an alternative pre-treatment mock-up technique and cost-effective medium-term esthetic solution.

As the economy has receded in recent years, many patients have been inclined to reject dental treatment beyond what they feel is the minimal amount necessary. Increasingly, there has been reluctance to take on the expense of full-mouth restorations and time-consuming procedures. Consequently, clinicians can benefit from innovative, conservative, interim solutions that enable them to provide segment treatment with long-term stability and esthetics, with lower initial cost.

Effect of porcelain and enamel thickness on porcelain veneer failure loads in vitro.

Statement Of Problem: Bonded porcelain veneers are widely used esthetic restorations. Although high success and survival rates have been reported, failures occur. Fracture is the most common failure mode.

Prosthetic soft tissue management following two periimplant graft failures: a clinical report.

A 53-year-old man experienced 2 soft tissue graft failures resulting in sizable hard and soft tissue defects in the esthetic zone following implant placement. A third connective tissue graft surgery was successful in repairing the defect and significantly improving soft tissue quality. A screw-retained, interim implant prosthesis was instrumental in gradually shaping the soft tissue over the course of the 3 surgeries.

Fatigue behavior of the resinous cement to zirconia bond.

Purpose: Resinous cements are widely used for luting zirconia restorations. Adhesive failures have occurred at the cement/zirconia interface, rather than at the cement/dentin interface, suggesting that the cement/zirconia bond may lack durability; however, few comprehensive, comparative evaluations of fatigue effects have been reported. The rate of fatigue-induced loss of bond strength may be a more important predictor of long-term success than a single snapshot of bond strength after an arbitrary number of thermocycles.

The use of slow heating and slow cooling regimens to strengthen porcelain fused to zirconia.

Statement Of Problem: Porcelain fused to zirconia prostheses are widely used. However, porcelain chipping, spalling, fracture, and delamination are common clinical problems. Residual stresses of thermal origin have received attention, but clear data and firing guidelines remain absent.

Digital photography enhances diagnostics, communication, and documentation.

Digital dental photography is an exceptional tool for communication, diagnosis, and documentation. So much of what is possible today with dental treatment hinges strongly upon dentists' ability to fully capture the necessary diagnostic information and properly educate their patients. With the proper training, techniques, equipment, and implementation, dental photography can significantly enhance the level of treatment provided.