In part two of this veneer workflow, Roberto Rossi completes the restoration by applying CERABIEN™ MiLai lusters to the pre-stained and sintered KATANA™ Zirconia YML. Watch as he enhances surface texture, gloss, and lifelike detail through precise finishing techniques.

With just a few simple steps, Roberto creates depth, dynamic light effects, and natural contours that rival real enamel. The process is intuitive and efficient, delivering a high-end finish—culminating in a final self-glazing fire for a polished, natural result.

An intelligent solution for dental technicians seeking efficiency without compromising on aesthetics.

In the first part of this aesthetic veneer workflow, dental technician Roberto Rossi demonstrates how to apply internal stains to KATANA™ Zirconia YML. This crucial step enhances the restoration by adding depth, translucency, and natural character from within.

After refining the anatomy and surface texture, Roberto skillfully blends and applies selected shades such as A+, Fluoro, and Incisal Blue. These shades create depth, opalescence, and inner vitality that radiate through the final restoration.

A must-watch for dental technicians looking to elevate their zirconia restorations with advanced, yet straightforward, internal staining techniques.

Workflow for sealing a prepared abutment tooth (for indirect restorations and CLEARFIL Universal Bond Quick 2.

EUROPEAN KOLS EXPERIENCE INNOVATION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP IN JAPAN

This September, seventeen of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from across Europe—representing nine countries—embarked on a remarkable journey to Japan. The program offered a rare opportunity to experience the heart of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s culture of innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration.

A JOURNEY OF INSIGHT AND INSPIRATION

The tour began in Tokyo, where the group traveled by bullet train to Nagoya to explore some of Japan’s cultural and professional landmarks. Visits to Nagoya Castle and the historic Noritake Garden provided glimpses into the artistry and heritage that continue to inspire our company’s ceramic technologies today.

Nagoya castle.

That evening, an official dinner in Nagoya brought together the European guests and key members of the Kuraray Noritake Dental team, including Ms. Kiyoko Ban, Mr. Yoshihisa Yamada, and Mr. Kazuhiro Yamada. It was an evening filled with rich conversations, meaningful connections, and a shared vision for the future of dental excellence.

FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION: VISITING THE MIYOSHI AND NIIGATA FACTORIES

The following day, the KOLs visited the Miyoshi Factory, where the company’s ceramic products such as KATANA™ Zirconia are manufactured, and  attended insightful presentations by their European peers — including Jorgen Gad, Sophie Dallem, Dumitru Leahu, Marios Georgoulis, Stratos Chatzichristos, and Kamila Krzepkowska — followed by a comprehensive factory tour and in-depth discussions  with R&D experts on zirconia and dental lab materials, providing unique professional insights.

Discussion with Kuraray Noritake Dental team at Miyoshi Factory.

Presentation given by DT Sophie Dallem and DT Dumitru Leahu at Miyoshi Factory.

Presentation given by DT Marios Georgoulis at Miyoshi Factory.

The tour also brought our KOLs to Niigata, where participants experienced firsthand the research and development process behind Kuraray Noritake Dental’s renowned products. A highlight was the hands-on demonstration of CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal, allowing each participant to engage directly with the materials and processes that define the company’s quality.

Hands-on course at Niigata plant.

CONNECTING THROUGH COLLABORATION

Between technical sessions, the group visited the Tokyo office and showroom, sharing open discussions with our Japanese colleagues at the headquarters, followed by a sightseeing tour through Tokyo’s landmarks — from the Imperial Palace to Tokyo Tower. These shared experiences strengthened the sense of partnership and mutual respect not only between the European and Japanese teams but also between the KOLs themselves and the company.

“It was an incredible experience meeting exceptional people worldwide, among them top specialists.” 
—    DT Kamila Krezpkowska, Poland

Discussion with Kuraray Noritake Dental team at the Tokyo headquarters.

WORDS FROM OUR KOLS

The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive:

“It was truly a lifetime experience — both inspiring and invaluable for me as a dental technician. Witnessing how the materials we use every day are created gave me an even deeper appreciation for the craft behind them.”
— DT Marios Georgoulis, Greece

“I’m so impressed by the organization, the endless friendliness, the openness, and the willingness to answer all my questions. It was a wonderful time, filled with so many experiences.” 
— Dr. Bernhild Stamnitz, Germany

“It was a life experience I will never forget and I am very grateful I got this opportunity to be there.[…] The drive and compassion of all the workers in office, but also at the factory were very impressive to see. The view I had about the quality of your product improved more than it already was.” 
—  Dr. Mark Laske, Netherlands

A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

The KOL Japan Tour 2025 was more than a professional visit—it was a bridge between continents, uniting people through shared values of precision, innovation, and artistry. Kuraray Noritake Dental extends heartfelt thanks to all participants and to the teams in Japan who made this unforgettable experience possible.

Group picture at the Kuraray Noritake Dental office in Tokyo.

Arigato!

Case by Andreas Chatzimpatzakis

A CONCEPT EVEN FOR AESTHETICALLY DEMANDING CASES

The micro-layering technique is regarded as a more efficient, streamlined approach used as an alternative for full porcelain layering. It requires aesthetic, high-strength ceramics like lithium disilicate or zirconia as a base and – ideally – a set of porcelains specifically designed for reduced layer thicknesses that allows users to focus on imitating the characteristics of enamel. A high-quality example is CERABIEN™ MiLai (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.). Consisting of a set of internal stains and porcelains with a firing temperature of just 740 °C and a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range of 9.5~11.0×10-6/K (50 °C – 500 °C), this product works well on lithium disilicate and zirconia.

Its aesthetic potential is surprisingly high: Depending on case-specific requirements, users are given the choice between maximum efficiency using a single-bake technique and maximum aesthetics achieved with more complex layering. The latter option is demonstrated below using the example of six maxillary anterior veneers.

Fig. 1. Lithium disilicate frameworks (Amber Press) on the model.

Fig. 2. CERABIEN™ MiLai Value Liner 1 applied to the framework. This porcelain is typically used on lithium disilicate for wash baking.

Fig. 3. First build-up with CERABIEN™ MiLai CCV2 in the cervical section, …

Fig. 4. … Value Liner 2, …

Fig. 5. … Creamy Enamel in the middle area …

Fig. 6. … and Tx used to add ultimate translucency.

Fig. 7. Appearance of the restorations after the first bake.

Fig. 8. Outcome of the internal staining procedure.

Fig. 9. Application of CERABIEN™ MiLai LT1 for a standard translucency and opalescence effect, …

Fig. 10. … E2, …

Fig. 11. … a mixture of E2 and ELT1 (mixing ratio: 50:50) for translucency and brightness and along the marginal ridges, …

Fig. 12. … Tx mixed with Royal Blue (mixing ratio 70:30) for a blueish translucency in the incisal area…

Fig. 13. … as well as a final layer of LTx to add ultimate translucency and opalescence to the whole enamel surface.

Fig. 14. Outcome of the third bake.

Fig. 15. Cutback for the final layer of porcelain.

Fig. 16. Final layer of CERABIEN™ MiLai added to the central and lateral incisors for translucency.

Fig. 17. Situation after the fourth bake, grinding and use of a rubber polisher.

Fig. 18. Outcome of the fifth bake (self-glaze).

Fig. 19. Beauty shots …

Fig. 20. … of the restorations …

Fig. 21. … on the model.

TRULY BEAUTIFUL OUTCOMES POSSIBLE

This case example reveals that CERABIEN™ MiLai is much more than just a maximum-efficiency solution: With the current line-up of porcelains and internal stains, truly beautiful restorations can be produced. Hence, users are given high flexibility regarding not only the high-strength framework material they prefer, but also the effort and time they would like to invest. This makes CERABIEN™ MiLai a versatile porcelain system that meets many needs and covers a wide range of applications in the dental laboratory.

Dental technician:

ANDREAS CHATZIMPATZAKIS

Andreas graduated from the Dental Technology Institute (TEI) of Athens in 1999. During his studies he followed a program at the Helsinki Polytechnic Department of Dental Technique, where he trained on implant superstructures and all ceramic prosthetic restorations. As of 2000, he is running the ACH Dental Laboratory in Athens, Greece, specialized on refractory veneers, zirconia and long span implant prosthesis. In 2017 Andreas visited Japan where he trained under the guidance of Hitoshi Aoshima, Naoto Yuasa and Kazunabu Yamanda and become International Trainer for Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc..

Workflow for cementation of indirect restorations with PANAVIA SA Cement Universal and CLEARFIL Universal Bond Quick 2.

Case af dr. Julien Molia

JA, DET VIRKER!

Mange tandlæger anser flowplast for at være velegnet som liner el. base under stærkere pastakompositter og indirekte restaureringer og som provisorisk materiale. Mange af dem antager dog, at deres brug er begrænset grundet flowplasts ringe mekaniske egenskaber.

EN NY GENERATION AF FLOWPLAST

Heldigvis er dette ikke længere sandt: flere flowplastmaterialer fra den seneste generation – heriblandt CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow og CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal (begge Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.) – er udstyret med mekaniske egenskaber, på linje med mange pastakompositter. Indikationsområdet er udvidet som følge heraf. Eksempelvis har CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal ifølge producenten et højt fillerindhold på 75 til 78 vægt%, en bøjestyrke på mere end 150 MPa og en trykstyrke som overgår 370 MPa. Takket være produktets høje styrke tjener det som en pålidelig og permanent løsning egnet til selv spændingsbærende områder, så som kindtænders okklusalflader.

Denne flowplast har dog endnu mere at byde på: den er tilgængelig i to flydeevner – LOW og SUPER LOW – så den dækker et bredere spektrum af personlige præferencer og individuelle indikationsspecifikke behov – og dét med blot to farver (Universal og Universal Dark). Sidstnævnte gør farvevalget intuitivt, selv i det anteriore område, og er muliggjort af en blanding af teknologier til farvematch, herunder optimeret lysdiffusionsteknologi og en emaljeagtig translucens.

Følgende case viser hvordan CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal gør mit liv nemmere ved fyldningsprocedurer i kindtandsområdet.

CASE 

Amalgamfyldningerne blev fjernet og caries ekskaveret, og den sunde tandsubstans bevaret mest mulig (fig. 2 og 3). En selektiv emaljeætsningsteknik blev valgt, og en universaladhæsiv påført (CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick 2, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.). Derefter blev kaviteterne fyldt med CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal i LOW varianten med farven U (fig. 4). Den anvendte flowplast er, takket være det innovative sprøjtedesign, praktisk talt fri for luftbobler. For at sikre komplet polymerisering overskred de enkelte lag ikke 2 millimeters tykkelse, i overensstemmelse med produktets brugsvejledning (fig. 5 og 6), hvilket har en afgørende betydning for de færdige fyldningers langtidsholdbarhed. Hvert lag bør lyshærdes grundigt i 10 til 20 sekunder (afhængigt af polymeriseringslampe), før det næste lag påføres. Som vist i figur 7, giver det anvendte materiales lave flydeevne mulighed for nogen udformning af okklusalrelieffet. Når flere anatomiske detaljer skal genskabes, kan den mere faste SUPER LOW-variant være en mulighed. Det tog blot få sekunder at pudse fyldningerne op til højglans (fig. 8).

Fig. 1. To amalgamfyldninger til udskiftning.

BRUGERVENLIGT ALTERNATIV TIL PASTAPLAST

Brugen af flowplast med velbalancerede mekaniske egenskaber kan være et godt alternativ til pastaplast, særligt i svært tilgængelige områder. Avanceret farvetilpasningsevne, en påføring praktisk talt fri for luftbobler, nem adaptering og opmodellering samt hurtig polering, gør i sandhed klinikerens liv simplere.

Dentist:

JULIEN MOLIA