Virtual Kick-Off Symposium on July 3, 2021: A big welcome to KATANA™ Zirconia YML!

The inventor of the original zirconia multi-layer technology, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc., has just introduced its latest development in the evolution of dental zirconia – KATANA™ Zirconia YML (yttria multi-layered). At the KATANA™ Zirconia YML Virtual Kick-Off Symposium on July 3, 2021, four world-renowned experts reported on their first-hand experience with this highly versatile material that complements the existing KATANA™ Zirconia Multi Layered Series very well.

The chairman of the event, Prof. Dr. Florian Beuer MME (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Fig. 1), represented the perspective of scientific researcher and clinician. MDT Daniele Rondoni, MDT Roberto Rossi (Savona, Italy) and MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos (Athens, Greece) shared their impressions obtained from processing KATANA™ Zirconia YML in the laboratory setting and focused on possible indications and finishing methods.

Fig. 1 Prof. Dr. Florian Beuer MME.

Scientific facts about YML

Following the welcome speech of Kazumitsu Nakatsuka (Head of BU Medical, Kuraray Europe GmbH, Fig. 2), Prof. Dr. Beuer started a journey through the evolution of dental zirconia. He described the different steps taken to transform an opaque, white framework material into a translucent, tooth-coloured material with a multi-layered structure suitable for monolithic restorations. In this context, he explained that KATANA™ Zirconia YML is a fifth-generation dental zirconia featuring colour, translucency and flexural strength gradation. High strength in the lower (body) part of the blank makes the zirconia well-suited even for long-span bridges, while the high translucency in the upper part facilitates natural aesthetics (Fig. 3). As a result, the material is recommended for virtually every indication (Fig. 4).

Fig. 2 Kazumitsu Nakatsuka, Head of BU Medical, Kuraray Europe GmbH.

Fig. 3 Multi-layered structure of KATANA™ Zirconia YML.

Fig. 4 Overview of the KATANA™ Zirconia portfolio and the recommended indications: KATANA™ Zirconia YML is the only material that is suitable for all indications from single tooth restorations to long-span bridges.

In order to leverage the desired properties such as high translucency for an anterior crowns or high strength for a long-span bridges, the restoration simply needs to be positioned in the correct part of the blank. The design flexibility of KATANA™ Zirconia YML is high and restrictions are few: the connectors of bridges with more than three units simply need to be positioned in the lower half of the blank for sufficient strength.

Additional benefits of the new material are a controlled firing deformation and high accuracy of the manufacturing process leading to a precise fit, the option of fast processing with a sintering time of just 54 minutes for short-span restorations and aesthetics comparable to glass-ceramic materials. After sharing these facts, some scientific data and clinical pictures, Prof. Dr. Beuer confessed that zirconia is his favourite material: it is forgiving, allows for minimally invasive restoration procedures and is suitable for virtually every indication. He usually opts for veneered zirconia in the anterior and monolithic zirconia in the posterior area. Like with every innovative dental material, he is looking forward to seeing more clinical data being shared with the community in the forthcoming years.

(Ultra) micro layering: Aesthetics easily achieved

MDTs Daniele Rondoni and Roberto Rossi focused on easy-to-achieve aesthetics with KATANA™ Zirconia YML. They presented different clinical cases to demonstrate how they obtain beautiful outcomes with a monolithic design (zero cutback), a small vestibular cutback or a micro cutback, and appropriate stains and porcelains from the CERABIEN™ ZR series (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.). Restorations with a monolithic design are typically individualized with internal stains and the liquid feldspathic ceramic material CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain (Figs. 5 and 6) or FC Paste Stain only (Fig. 7), a procedure that was demonstrated in a hands-on session. FC Paste Stain allows for application in ultra-thin layers and yet, it creates desired 3D effect. When opting for a (vestibular) micro cutback, microlayering with internal stains and a single luster porcelain (LT1) completed in a single bake may be the solution. All techniques are easily implemented and possible only thanks to the high aesthetic potential of the base material (KATANA™ Zirconia YML), which reduces the manual processing effort and time without compromising quality and aesthetics.

Fig. 5 Recipe for the use of CERABIEN™ ZR Internal Stain …

Fig. 6 … in combination with CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain Clear glaze on a monolithic surface (presented by Daniele Rondoni and Roberto Rossi).

Fig. 7 Example of a Toronto bridge made of KATANA™ Zirconia YML A2, finished in the gum areas with CERABIEN™ ZR Tissue Kit and on the teeth with CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain (presented by Daniele Rondoni and Roberto Rossi).

When starting to work with a new zirconia, the speakers recommend to analyse its optical properties in different light conditions, compare it with other materials and use a spectrophotometer discover its specific optical behaviour. What the speakers like most about KATANA™ Zirconia YML is the fact that all indications are covered with a single material.

Combining different finishing techniques: High-end aesthetics

According to Nondas Vlachopoulos, KATANA™ Zirconia YML is a great solution that combines the strength of second-generation zirconia like KATANA™ Zirconia HTML and the very high translucency usually found only in materials with reduced strength like KATANA™ Zirconia STML. The speaker showed several clinical case examples from complex implant-based restorations to crowns on teeth and implants, which were all solved with the new material (Figs. 8 and 9). He usually applies monolithic zirconia individualized with CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain in the posterior area, while on the six anterior teeth, he opts for complex porcelain layering techniques leading to the exceptionally aesthetic results that have made him famous.

Fig. 8 Wear case solved with monolithic KATANA™ Zirconia YML restorations in the posterior and layered restorations in the anterior area (presented by Nondas Vlachopoulos).

Fig. 9 Maxillary left central incisor restored with a layered crown with a KATANA™ Zirconia YML coping on an implant (presented by Nondas Vlachopoulos).

Highly versatile material

In the discussion following the presentations (Fig. 10), two experts from Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. – Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi and Antonio Corradi – stressed that the high processing quality of KATANA^™ Zirconia YML is due to the end-to-end in-house production process, ensuring that the company has control over every detail. The speakers agreed that the new product leads to numerous benefits for dental technicians and clinicians, as it allows for standardized procedures, a reduced inventory and simply produces beautiful outcomes with the preferred technique.

Fig. 10 Discussion with the experts in the studio and online.

Watching the renowned experts, their presentations and the final discussion, it became clear to the participants that KATANA™ Zirconia YML is a true all-in-one solution suitable for virtually all types of restorations and finishing techniques. With its well-aligned composition and smooth transition from one layer to the next, it is a great choice for everyone striving for aesthetic and reliable outcomes. More information about KATANA™ Zirconia YML is available at our website.

If you would like to watch back the event recordings click here.

• 31. aug. 2021

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