429 Too Many Requests

Interview with Yoshihisa Yamada
General Manager, Technology Division of Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.

KATANA™ Zirconia ML was introduced ten years ago, at the IDS 2013 in Cologne, as the dental industry’s first zirconia product with a multi-layered colour structure. Since that event, KATANA™ Zirconia ML blanks have become very popular. Continued development efforts have led to the current line-up of multi-layered materials, KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, STML and HTML PLUS, and our latest product – KATANA™ Zirconia YML. Our new technology with colour, translucency and strength gradation is found in KATANA™ Zirconia YML.

Photo credits to MDT Giuliano Moustakis.

How important was the invention of the Kuraray Noritake Dental’s original multi-layered technology for the dental market?

Our impression is that the material has had a significant impact on the dental market. Being the first zirconia material with a multi-layered colour structure, KATANA™ Zirconia ML was our first product of its class to offer the properties needed for the efficient production of full-contour zirconia restorations with a natural look. Before its introduction, the “full-contour zirconia” concept had not been widely accepted due to the aesthetic properties of the zirconia materials available so far: Many of them lacked the desired level of translucency, while others needed to be treated with dyeing liquids or stains in a complex procedure to obtain a natural shade appearance. With the launch of multi-layered zirconia blanks, which successfully added natural colour gradation to the structure, aesthetic full-contour zirconia restorations started to become popular among dental technicians worldwide. The high potential of the technology was confirmed at the IDS 2013 show, when we saw not only end-users, but also engineers from competing companies come to look at this product.

4-layer colour structure of KATANA™ multi-layered discs.

Photo credits to MDT Daniele Rondoni.

What changes were driven forward by the introduction of KATANA™ Zirconia ML?

After the introduction of KATANA™ Zirconia ML, many companies started developing multi-layered zirconia discs, creating a new dental product category with an added technical and clinical value. We are convinced that the invention of Kuraray Noritake Dental has played a major role in the shift from zirconia exclusively used as a framework material to alternative approaches including full-contour zirconia restorations. If only monochromatic zirconia discs had been available, we imagine that an increased number of dental technicians would have embraced the concept of using liquid colourants to achieve a natural appearance of full-contour crowns and bridges. That would have prevented monolithic zirconia restorations from becoming as popular as they are today.

How did the KATANA™ Zirconia ML technology evolve over the past ten years?

Based on our unique core technology developed for inventing KATANA™ Zirconia ML, we have been continuing making efforts to create even better products. One of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s great strengths is its ability to develop all the raw materials for its zirconia products inhouse. This makes it possible for us to adjust the boundaries between the layers as inconspicuously as possible, even when discs consist of multiple layers. This enabled us to provide multi-layered discs with the required strength and aesthetic qualities, and with a stable, predictable shrinkage rate. In the past ten years, we have focused on adding new materials with different levels of translucency and strength to offer a portfolio that meets the demands of virtually every dental technician, practitioner and patient.

For example, the advent of KATANA™ Zirconia STML, which has even better aesthetic qualities than KATANA™ Zirconia ML, has made it possible to use it all by itself to create highly aesthetic restorations, with no need to characterize or individualize the restorations. Of course, if you use KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered discs and treat the restorations with a surface staining agent, such as CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain, you can create even more aesthetic restorations in a shorter time.

What are the benefits of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s multi-layered technology, as compared with other manufacturer’s solutions?

KATANA™ Zirconia multi-layered discs offer the advantage of delivering the proper colour even when they are sintered at high speed. There are two reasons for this. First, we developed unique raw materials with suitable characteristics for high-speed firing. This allows the creation of restorations with the same strength, stability, and aesthetics to be achieved after both short- and long-time firing. The second reason is that we possess the technical know-how concerning excellent shading that Noritake Dental Supply, one of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s predecessors, cultivated during its many years spent developing ceramic materials. Noritake Co., Ltd., parent company of Noritake Dental Supply, is a long-established ceramic manufacturer that is famous for its tableware and other outstanding products. It is this background that allows us to properly control pigment coloration using our inorganic pigment know-how and to provide unique firing schedules. These two strengths enable us to bring unique advantages to our products. That is, they remain stable and retain appropriate colouration even under rapid firing schedules.

CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain being applied to KATANA™ Zirconia restoration.

Photo credits to MDT Roberto Rossi.

How did you manage to shorten the sintering times so significantly, resulting in your speedy sintering with uniform protocols?

When shorter sintering times became possible, Kuraray Noritake Dental recommended that KATANA™ Zirconia ML be sintered for seven hours. After that, when a new furnace claiming being capable of short-time firing was launched, we used it to fire KATANA™ Zirconia ML on a trial basis. We found, happily, that our zirconia material was uniquely compatible with rapid firing. This was the beginning of our full-fledged study of short-time firing of our zirconia material. You could say that we began investigating short-time firing almost by accident. Then, while developing KATANA™ Zirconia STML and KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, successors of KATANA™ Zirconia ML, we focused on incorporating short-time firing into their features and made various adjustments, finally achieving the optimal combination of factors for the successful short-time firing of zirconia.

What are the benefits of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s second-generation multi-layered technology, as compared with other manufacturer’s solutions?

One advantage of KATANA™ Zirconia YML is that it can be applied to treat a wider range of cases without complex limitations on position within the disc. The reason: it delivers this high level of aesthetics while still maintaining great strength. This advantage of being appropriate for a wider range of cases also simplifies inventory management. In addition, users benefit from our expertise in developing raw materials and reproducing colour with ceramics. This expertise enabled us to develop a zirconia product in which each layer has a different level of translucency, while great strength and admirable aesthetics are maintained throughout the whole blank.

The sintering recommendation is only a guideline; some adjustments may be required depending on each individual furnace. If the furnace cannot be set according to the 54- or 90-minute sintering schedule, speed sintering cannot be used.

* The restorations may be removed at 800°C or less depending on the circumstances.
** For the sintering schedule of KATANA™ Zirconia HT, please refer to the Handy Chart in product packaging.

Is it really possible to address every case using only KATANA™ Zirconia YML?

For every case that can be treated either with KATANA™ Zirconia STML, KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, or KATANA™ Zirconia HTML PLUS, KATANA™ Zirconia YML is also an option. Hence, it is possible to use only KATANA™ Zirconia YML for all your zirconia cases – which is probably one of the reasons for its great popularity. It features both great strength and excellent aesthetics, and – being so versatile – it helps simplify inventory management. Of course, Kuraray Noritake Dental’s other multi-layered materials feature outstanding properties as well. Depending on the features you need, it would also be an option to select from these products - KATANA™ Zirconia STML, KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, or KATANA™ Zirconia HTML PLUS – to realize your ideal restorations.

KATANA™ Zirconia YML, finished with CERABIEN™ ZR.

Photo credits to MDT Giuliano Moustakis.

Why is the KATANA™ brand in general so popular among dental technicians around the world?

We think that dental technicians choose KATANA™ because they find that they can create highly aesthetic restorations using simple, straightforward steps.

Is there any further development potential in multi-layered technology?

On the basis of our technical know-how, there is always room for improvement. That is why we never stop innovating and listening to the voice of our customers. Developing what supports them in improving their outcomes while providing for more predictable, less stressful procedures is our ultimate goal. Right now, we expect to develop products with even greater strength, increased translucency, and outstanding aesthetics that will have a natural look resembling real teeth, even when the material used is full-contour zirconia.

Dentist:

YOSHIHISA YAMADA

We are thrilled to share with you our latest brochure – KATANA Zirconia Restoration System, featuring Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc’s product line-up that is dedicated to creating true-to-live restorations.

The KATANA Zirconia Family brochure features a range of lab-side products that are designed to meet the needs of modern dental professionals.

Our zirconia materials offer excellent strength and aesthetics, making them a top choice for prosthetic dentistry. In the new KATANA Zirconia Family brochure, you can read detailed information, key technical parameters, and suggested indication ranges for all our zirconia products - KATANA Zirconia UTML, STML, HTML PLUS, YML and HT. Also, we look at other products from our range such as CERABIEN ZR Porcelain, FC Paste Stain and  Esthetic Colorant that are and excellent choice for characterization of zirconia restorations, provide an overview of the sintering programs of KATANA Zirconia multi-layered discs and offer useful tips and tricks on how to best handle our zirconia.

With the KATANA Zirconia Family brochure, you will have all the basic information you need to make informed decisions about materials suitable for your dental lab.

Have a read, learn more and stay up to date!

“Very nice handling properties”

PAVANIA™ Veneer LC receives 4.6 rating in REALITY’s Five Star Award

After a FirstLook evaluation published in May 2022, a team of evaluators from REALITY RATINGS & REVIEWS has thoroughly tested PANAVIA™ Veneer LC in the clinical practice environment – with great outcomes. The purely light-cured resin cement received 4.6 out of 5 stars in the Five Star Award, the most convincing features being its handling and viscosity.

While most of the evaluators used PANAVIA™ Veneer LC for the permanent cementation of veneers, some also tested the onlay indication (restricted to high-translucency materials of a material-specific maximum thickness). Those who decided to polish the margins (43 %) found that the resin cement is very well polishable with little effort. Among the handling properties highlighted were easy seating with virtually no drifting, non-stickiness and easy excess removal – both after tack curing and in the cement’s uncured state. In addition, the evaluators praised the minimal film thickness and favourable viscosity, which has a considerable impact on the ease of seating. The working time was sufficient for all evaluators, independent of their way of working (filtering/blocking dental unit light or not, placing multiple veneers simultaneously or one veneer at a time).

The shade offering – PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is available in the four shades Clear, Universal/A2, Brown/A4 and White – was regarded adequate by most evaluators (79 %), the most popular shade being Clear. One evaluator stated that “I think the “clear” shade is my new favorite. It seems to have a brightness to it compared to other clear or translucent cements.”. Being the only shade with a high opacity, White was found to have a decisive impact on the appearance of the final restoration. The try-in pastes were well-received for their handling and easy rinse-off ability.

The PANAVIA™ Veneer LC kit available in Europe consists of PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Paste, PANAVIA™ V5 Tooth Primer and CLEARFIL™ CERAMIC PRIMER PLUS. Hence, it builds confidence by sharing primers with the proven PANAVIA™ V5, while its long working time and specific handling properties add extra benefits that are extremely valuable during veneer cementation. Click here to read the full evaluation!

According to Koelnmesse, 120,000 visitors from 162 countries attended the 40th International Dental Show between March 14 and 18, 2023. Being one of the 1,788 companies from 60 countries exhibiting at the show, the Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. team enjoyed being back on-site, and seized every opportunity to connect with end-users of their products in person again. About 60 percent of the visitors and 75 percent of the exhibitors came from abroad. A highly international, euphoric atmosphere and lots of positive feedback on innovations confirmed that the team is on the right track in developing solutions that support users in improving the lives of their patients. However, the visiting dental professionals were not only interested in products for the dental office and laboratory, but also in smart techniques and approaches for their productive use – presented by renowned experts in lectures and hands-on demonstrations.

Laboratory solutions: The professionals were particularly interested in the brand-new Esthetic Colorant and the whole KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series.

Hands-on demonstration of MDT Giuliano Moustakis: Zero Bake Technique with Esthetic Colorant and CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain.

MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos revealing how to obtain aesthetic outcomes with the One-Bake Technique.

Micro-layering with MDT Daniele Rondoni.

A roadmap to white-pink aesthetics shared by MDT Andreas Chatzimpatzakis.

MDT Alek Aronin describing a handcraft approach to highly aesthetic outcomes.

Indirect workflow solutions: PANAVIA™ Cements meeting every need.

Universal Excellence: CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal put to a test.

Handling test with direct restorative materials.

Demonstration of the flowable injection technique by Dr Michał Jaczewski.

Dr José Ignacio Zorzin shedding light on how to achieve reliable adhesion with universal products.

CEREC tips and tricks from MUDr Josef Kunkela, PhD.

Looking forward to seeing you at the next International Dental Show in Cologne in 2025 or elsewhere: The Kuraray Noritake Dental team!

Stratos Chatzichristos just tested the brand-new Esthetic Colorant on restorations made of KATANA™ Zirconia. This is his verdict:

“For me, KATANA™ Zirconia plus Esthetic Colorant is a true killer combination that leaves nothing to be desired. I love to apply the dyeing liquids to my monolithic zirconia restorations to intensify characteristic features and create natural shade effects. Usually, those restorations just need a final layer of glaze to look amazing!”

Every tooth has its unique internal shade structure. With its unique raw materials and colour structure, and specifically developed for the “KATANA ™ Zirconia” Multi-Layered series, Esthetic Colorant enables you to easily and efficiently imitate a variety of these unique characteristics.

The liquids are simply applied to the monolithic or anatomical restoration after milling using ametal-free brush or brush pen, preferably with a Liquid Brush Pen. The Esthetic Colorant diffuses into the pre-sintered structure and is fixed during sintering with no additional baking, resulting in lifelike shade effects shining from the inside of the restoration.

Would you like to know more about how to use our Esthetic Colorant, watch the video now:

World’s largest dental trade show is coming to a close

Have you been one of the dental professionals who have visited the world’s largest dental trade show this year? We have all had a fantastic time and would like to thank you for your huge interest in our products and solutions. From our conversations with you, the whole team has gained new insights into what you like, value and desire. We will use this information to keep on innovating – to develop more groundbreaking new technologies and products for patient-centered dentistry.

For example, products like KATANA™ Zirconia YML which feature second-generation multi-layered technology. It enables dental technicians to solve all their zirconia cases with a single material thanks to its flexural strength, translucency and colour gradation in a single disc.

Experts like MDT Daniele Rondoni and MDT Nondas Vlachopoulous value the well-balanced properties that enable them to position the restoration quite flexibly in the blank. They are also enthusiastic about the aesthetic potential of this and other materials of the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series that allows for beautiful outcomes with no or just a small layer of porcelain.

In their presentations, both professionals revealed how to leverage the benefits of multi-layered zirconia. For MDT Daniele Rondoni, for example, multi-layered KATANA™ Zirconia is the perfect base for his 4.4.1 micro-layering technique demonstrated at the booth. Thanks to the extraordinarily well-balanced optical properties of the materials, he usually opts for a full-contour design or a slight vestibular cutback – depending on the region in the mouth and the aesthetic demands of the patient. Then, he combines different materials of the CERABIEN™ ZR portfolio in a micro-layer to create natural outcomes.

MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos uses the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series as a basis for his restorations finishing with the one-bake technique he demonstrated in his presentations – or for the incredible imitations of nature that only a few dental technicians are able to create.

Have you missed some of the presentations that were of interest you? All the lectures and hands-on demonstrations will be available OnDemand soon!

See you all in Cologne in 2025!

IDS and Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. celebrating anniversaries

Did you know that not only the IDS is celebrating a double anniversary this year, but Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. is, too? The PANAVIA™ brand was established 40 years ago, while the first ever zirconia disc with a multi-layered colour structure – KATANA Zirconia ML – was introduced ten years ago at the IDS 2013.

The success story of the brand PANAVIA began with the introduction of PANAVIA™ EX, the first resin cement containing the original MDP Monomer. Since then, the company never stopped innovating: new technologies were developed and combined with existing ones to create a portfolio of resin cements precisely geared to the era-specific needs of end users. All of this has resulted in the current portfolio of easy-to-use and highly aesthetic resin cements that provide top-level bond strength.

The latest member of the PANAVIA™ family is PANAVIA™ Veneer LC, a light-curing resin cement system from Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. available in four shades. It consists of PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Paste, PANAVIA™ V5 Tooth Primer and CLEARFIL™ CERAMIC PRIMER PLUS. With its extended working time of 200 seconds* on the primer, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is designed for a simultaneous veneer placement technique. Other beneficial features include a well-aligned paste consistency, a high colour stability, easy excess removal after tack-curing and an excellent bond strength over time.

Many visitors interested in this as well as the other two products of the current PANAVIA™ family – PANAVIA™ V5 and PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal – had the chance to talk to Yui Otsuka, marketing specialist, from the Information Marketing Group of Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. in Japan. “Many visitors know and trust the PANAVIA™ brand. As users of PANAVIA™ V5, they were either looking for a light-curing version – which they found in PANAVIA™ Veneer LC – or for a solution that would simplify their workflows in many situations. The desired simplification is easily achieved with PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal, the self-adhesive resin cement that even bonds to glass ceramics very well,” she reports. Please be sure to look out for her at our booth to learn more interesting facts about the PANAVIA™ family!

For dental technicians, it might be worth having a look at the last day’s presentation programme: At 09:30 am, and MDT Daniele Rondoni will shed light on the “4.4.1 Micro-Layering Technique”. At noon, MDT Giuliano Moustakis will demonstrate how to achieve beautiful outcomes simply by carving and the use of Esthetic Colorant on KATANA Zirconia. And finally, MDT Andreas Chatzimpatzakis will focus on ”White-Pink Aesthetics” (1:30 pm).

See you tomorrow in Hall 11.3 at our Booth # E010/F019!

Just two more days to satisfy your thirst for knowledge!

We cannot quite believe how quickly three days of the world’s largest dental trade fair have passed! We have had some fascinating conversations with visitors and truly appreciate the insights and information they have been able to give us. So, with just two more days to go, please do not miss the opportunity to talk with our team – we promise you will not be disappointed; you will find them more than happy to make time for you and share their profound knowledge.

Today in the early afternoon, many CEREC users interested in our chairside materials – KATANA™ AVENCIA and KATANA™ Zirconia Block for CEREC – attended the hands-on demonstration of MUDr Josef Kunkela, PhD titled “KATANA™ Properties and CEREC Tips & Tricks”. He revealed that CAD/CAM materials should be carefully selected not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to provide for an accurate fit, high marginal stability and surface quality of the restorations produced. His knowledge stems from studies conducted in his own research laboratory. In these tests, KATANA™ materials outperformed other materials (of the same material class) in terms of dimensional stability, size of the cement gap and margin and surface quality.

These facts were new to a part of the audience, and confirmed by experienced users. As Ricarda Köbler, Area Sales Representative at Kuraray Noritake Dental, says: “I talked to several users of KATANA™ Zirconia Block, who were not surprised by the findings just presented. They love the processing properties of the material just as its aesthetic potential, and value the precise fit and smooth surfaces they obtain every time.” Ricarda is part of the team at our booth’s Indirect Restorative counter showcasing CAD/CAM blocks, resin cement systems and more.

The next – and final – opportunity to attend the demonstration of MUDr Josef Kunkela, PhD is tomorrow morning at 09:30 am at the Kuraray Noritake Dental booth (Hall 11.3, Booth # E010/F019). Popular presentations focusing on laboratory solutions and approaches from today will be repeated on Friday, starting with MDT Daniele Rondoni’s “4.4.1 Micro-Layering Technique” at 12:00 pm and continuing with MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos’ “One Bake Technique at 03:15 pm. On Saturday, MDT Daniele Rondoni will be on stage again at 09:30 am.

Successful kick-off of the presentation programme

What a day! Numerous visitors, a huge interest in all our product groups and the start of our lecture programme – this Wednesday at the IDS 2023 by far exceeded our expectations. While the morning lectures were full of tips and tricks for dental practitioners, everything around the use of our dental laboratory products took centre stage in the afternoon.

A particular highlight: The brand-new effect liquids Esthetic Colorant. Consisting of twelve shading liquids specifically developed for the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series, Esthetic Colorant is used to individualize the materials’ highly aesthetic multi-layered colour structure after milling, before the final sintering procedure. The liquids are applied to the zirconia surface with a metal-free brush, preferably the Liquid Brush Pen, to create characteristic shade effects or mask dark underlying structures (WHITE and OPAQUE). Final sintering fixes the liquids and reveals the desired optical effects.

The use of the liquids was demonstrated by MDT Giuliano Moustakis in his presentation titled “Zero Bake Technique: Carving and Esthetic Colorant on KATANA™ Zirconia”. Jens Witschel, Area Sales Representative at Kuraray Noritake Dental, works at the booth’s Laboratory Solutions counter. He reports: “The whole day, the interest in Esthetic Colorant and our KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series was exceptionally high, but it was highest right after the hands-on demonstration of Giuliano Moustakis. People are fond of products that enable them to create beautiful restorations with less manual work, and the Zero Bake Technique presented in this lecture obviously hit a nerve!”

The next hands-on demonstration of MDT Giuliano Moustakis is on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 1:30 pm. Then, on Saturday, March 18, 2023, he will be on stage at noon. Also, you should definitely attend the following hands-on demo of MDT Andreas Chatzimpatzakis on white-pink aesthetics at 1:30 pm!

Do not miss the chance to participate and connect with Jens Witschel and colleagues for in-depth product information! We look forward to seeing you in Hall 11.3 at our Booth # E010/F019!

Exciting start: Trade Dealer’s Day at IDS 2023

Today, the International Dental Show in Cologne opened its doors for the 40th time. We were delighted to welcome many of our valued trade partners at our booth in Hall 11.3. It felt great to be meeting them all in person again! A concept many of our today’s visitors are fond of is universal excellence: Universally applicable products that offer the benefit of an intuitive, often simplified use.

Kuraray Noritake Dental offers an outstanding portfolio of universal products covering a wide range of diverse procedures, both for dental offices and laboratories. For direct restorative procedures, CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal, a composite for the anterior and posterior region in just three shades is a great choice. Blending in seamlessly with the surrounding tooth structure, it eliminates the need for laborious shade determination and selection. On the other hand, you may be interested in CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow, a universal flowable composite suitable for every cavity class. Highly polishable, it allows you to create an enamel-like gloss in next to no time. To further streamline the direct restorative workflow, you may opt for CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick, a universal adhesive suitable for every etching technique, shortening application times.

Our entire universal product portfolio is being showcased by our friendly, knowledgeable staff including Dr Jorge Espigares from the Information Marketing Group of Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc in Japan. An expert in these materials, Jorge says: “Especially the touch-and-feel experience on model teeth, e.g. with CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal, was very well received today – by dental practitioners as well as our trade dealers. Among the features they liked were the paste consistency, handling and aesthetics.“

Are you interested in our universal excellence products as well? Then, you should definitely come and visit our booth tomorrow morning, talk to Jorge and his colleagues and follow the first two lectures of the day. At 09:30 am, Dr Michał Jaczewski will shed light on how he uses CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow in the context of the flowable injection technique. Afterwards, at noon, Dr José Ignacio Zorzin will focus on “Adhesion with Universal Products”.

In the afternoon, renowned dental technicians will present innovative techniques around the production of aesthetic indirect restorations.

Would you like to learn more? Visit our website for more information about Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. at IDS 2023.

We look forward to meeting you in Hall 11.3 at Booth E010/F019!