What if Kuraray Noritake Dental had not developed the MDP monomer?

What would the quality of adhesive dentistry be if Kuraray Noritake had not developed the MDP monomer? MDP has proved to be a very effective functional monomer for creating durable bonding to enamel, dentine and metals. The best-known products containing MDP are CLEARFIL™ SE BOND and PANAVIA™.

Structure of Adhesive monomer MDP

Adhesion to various substrates is possible Thanks to MDP (methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate), which has been shown to create a long term, durable and stable bond to both dental tissue and metal oxides. Research conducted over the past few decades has demonstrated the effectiveness of MDP. The first Kuraray Noritake Dental product to contain MDP was PANAVIA EX. Various other adhesive and cementation systems followed. Our latest products, PANAVIA™ V5 and CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond, also rely to a large extent on the performance of the original MDP monomer. MDP has the following structure:

1. terminal double bond group for polymerisation
2. hydrophobic alkylene group to maintain a delicate balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties and
3. hydrophilic phosphate group for performance of the acid demineralisation and chemical bonding to tooth structure.

Fig. 1. The chemical structure of adhesive monomer (MDP).

History

In the years between 1978 and the late 1990s, it became possible to increase the bond strength to dentine to more than the intrinsic strength of the dentine itself. MDP played a major role in these developments. The solid ionic bond with calcium from the HAp in dental tissue means that such failures as occur are cohesive in the dentine rather than being failures of the adhesive. Apart from in vitro studies confirming this bond strength, the long term clinical durability recorded over 13 years is also impressive.

Research

Research from Yaun et al., 2007, shows that defects along the interface are largely responsible for degradation of the hybrid layer. CLEARFIL™ SE BOND exhibited no such defects. So it was expected that SE BOND would also prove to have a stable connection to dental tissue. Recently, Peumans et al. From Leuven University, Belgium found CLEARFIL™ SE BOND to still have excellent clinical effectiveness after 13 years.

In their publication in the Journal of Dental Research 83, 2004, Yoshida et al. concluded that the choice of the adhesive monomer played a significant role in the effectiveness of the adhesive. They found MDP to be the best and fastest in tests for chemical adhesion (ionic bonding) and stability in a moist environment (insoluble) – better and more stable than 4-MET and Phenyl-P, in that order.

After 35 years, MDP is still in a class of its own. To date, no manufacturer has been able to develop an adhesive monomer with better adhesion properties combined with durable bond strength. Many attempts have been made, but none have succeeded. In the meantime, Kuraray’s patent on MDP has expired. This has opened up the market for other manufacturers to synthesise their own MDP. Only a few non-dental chemical companies are supplying MDP to other manufacturers of adhesive systems, and the synthesis of high-purity MDP remains extremely difficult.

More recently, Kumiko Yoshihara et al. published ‘Functional monomer impurity affects adhesive performance’, in Dental Materials 31 (2015) 1493-1501. They concluded that the three MDP’s they studied exhibited different levels of purity. Differences in the resultant hybrid layers were observed in all three MDP versions: both impurities and the presence of dimers had an effect on the etching efficacy of the HAp, and also on the intensity of nano-layer presence and the immediate bond strength.

μTBS of MDP’s from different origin

Yoshihara Ket al. Functional monomer impurity affects adhesive performance Dent Mater 31, 1493-1501, 2015.

Fig. 2.

Explanation

The three 10-MDP’s studied in this study clearly revealed a different purity. Differences in the ultrastructure of the resultant hybrid layers were observed for the three 10-MDP versions. Both the impurities and the presence of dimers affected the etching efficacy of HAp, the intensity of nano layering and the ïmmediate’ bond strength.

“The purity of 10-MDP present in commercial dental primers, adhesives and cements can be expected to influence bonding performance.”

By Kazunobu Yamada, RDT

Are you looking for a convenient finishing technique that allows you to successfully start using KATANA™ Zirconia YML for the production of life-like restorations?

In this video, Kazunobu Yamada, RDT, demonstrates how texturing and polishing of the lingual surface and texturing, pre-polishing and glazing of the labial surface of an anterior crown will deliver impressive outcomes.

The introduction of universal composites, which are not only universal in terms of application range but also in terms of shade adaptation, effectively marks the dawn of a new type of composite. This prompts a reinterpretation of the term "universal composite."

CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 is a nanohybrid composite family. Nowadays, nanohybrid composites are commonly used as universal composites. They have a high filler content, they are strong, and they have exceptionally good polishability characteristics¹.

The newest variant in the CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 range is CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal shade concept. For this composite; we expand the definition of universal and include shade coverage.

Posteriorly, a single material in a single shade is sufficient to cover the entire VITA™ range. This means that no shade determination is required. For the anterior zone, we offer two shade variants: a lighter and a darker variant (UL and UD). The lighter variant is used in the A1-A2 range and the darker for shades from A3 onwards. There is sufficient overlap between UL and UD ensuring no specific shade determination is necessary.

Finally, for situations that require extra lightness and brightness, an additional UW shade is available.

What makes CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal unique in comparison to other universal or single-shade composites?
The difference with CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal, is that without using an additional opaque composite, sometimes called a blocker, a successful, superbly matching restoration can be constructed. Not only with smaller cavities, but also with larger class I and II restorations. And, when used anteriorly, even an extensive Class IV restoration can be successfully constructed using CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal. So, it is not only for those small class III or V lesions.

Why Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. can do this where others cannot, is to a large extent, thanks to optimized light diffusion technology (LDT). By using this technology in composites with the right translucency, the light is scattered and reflected in such a way that the composite blends in with the surrounding tooth structure.

Where others use the widely-employed chameleon effect, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. adds an extra dimension in the form of LDT. With the chameleon effect, light passes through the material and is reflected off the walls of the cavity. The perceived shade of the restoration is therefore the shade of the cavity walls. If the cavity is too large, thus requiring a larger amount of filling material, the light has to travel further and a large proportion of the light is absorbed. With this, the brightness of the restoration is reduced and the shade of the cavity walls no longer accurately reflected.

Our LDT allows light to be scattered within the composite itself, in addition to being reflected off the cavity walls. As a result, CLEARFIL MAJESTYTM ES-2 Universal is a particularly forgiving composite. This feature will be familiar to those who have used CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 family products before.

CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Universal is the result of sophisticated filler, matrix and silane technology. It offers a solution for all your routine composite work. A consistently superb restoration where shade determination is a thing of the past.

Reference

¹ Ilie, N., & Hickel, R. (2011). Resin composite restorative materials. Aust Dent J, 56 Suppl 1, 59-66. doi:10.1111/j.1834-7819.2010.01296.x

We are pleased to share with you short training videos for CERABIEN™ ZR (CZR) porcelain.

Check out the below working steps and learn more about how to achieve outstanding aesthetics using this tried and proven material.

It is strong, it is pre-shaded like natural teeth, and it is reliable: KATANA™ Zirconia HTML, the highest strength version among KATANA™ multi-layered zirconia series. Now, Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. has carefully optimized the product to further improve its optical properties and to harmonize the sintering schedules with all other materials of the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series.

The new KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus offers all popular properties of its predecessor, including the multi-layered colour structure and uniform strength distribution throughout the blank. It is suitable for a variety of indications including long-span bridges with a minimum wall thickness of just 0.4 mm in the anterior and 0.5 mm in the posterior region. This allows for minimally invasive preparations, while the user may choose between a monolithic, cut-back or framework design combined with the preferred finishing technique.

The PLUS refers to additional benefits like the material’s improved optical properties: KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus offers an increased translucency of 45 percent (compared to 43 percent KATANA™ Zirconia HTML) and an even more natural shade appearance of the manufactured restorations. “As the colour of the restorations appears deeper, more vivid and more saturated, and the translucency is closer to that of natural teeth, a great optical integration is achieved straight away. This leads to a reduced finishing effort”, says Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi, EU Scientific Manager Dental Ceramics & CAD/CAM Materials at Kuraray Noritake Dental. At the same time, the high flexural strength (1,150 MPa) is maintained, providing for an unlimited range of indications.

Like its predecessor and all other materials of the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series, KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus is the result of an in-house development, powder compilation and blank production process that is able to control every detail. This enabled our specialists to achieve a precise alignment of the desired properties, while maintaining a high blank quality that leads to the accurate milling results with smooth surfaces and regular edges users of KATANA™ Zirconia HTML are familiar with.

The unique powder composition and specific in-house blank production procedure also allowed us to streamline the sintering protocols. For single-tooth restorations and bridges with up to three units, three different protocols are available: a 54-minute high-speed sintering programme specifically developed for remake and rush cases, a 90-minute schedule and the traditional seven-hour sintering programme. The latter is also suitable for long-span restorations.

These three options and identical schedules are available for KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus, KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, KATANA™ Zirconia STML and the new KATANA™ Zirconia YML with additional flexural strength and technical translucency gradation. With this feature, it becomes extraordinarily easy to standardize procedures despite an indication-specific selection of the best-suited KATANA™ Multi-Layered Zirconia.

Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi concludes: “KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus is completely in line with our philosophy of developing products that support their users in streamlining and simplifying procedures without limiting choices. Users may choose from a whole range of highly specialized or universal zirconia solutions, may opt for their preferred design and finishing technique, and can select the sintering protocol that suits their individual needs. At the same time, the manual effort is reduced and the risk of starting the wrong sintering programme is eliminated.”

One for all: With KATANA™ Zirconia YML (yttria multi-layered), Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. has launched a true allrounder covering traditional and new zirconia indications. At the KATANA™ Zirconia YML Virtual Kick-Off Symposium on July 3, 2021, professionals from the clinical and technical field as well as scientific experts from Kuraray Noritake Inc. provided insights into the properties and benefits of the innovation. We had a conversation with three of them about the specific features of KATANA™ Zirconia YML and its potential role in the dental practice and laboratory. Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi, EU Scientific Manager Dental Ceramics & CAD/CAM Materials, provided insights from inside the company, while Prof. Dr. Florian Beuer MME, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos, owner of the dental laboratory AestheticLab in Athens, shared their external perspectives.

Prof. Dr. Florian Beuer MME and Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi during the conversation at the Kick-Off Symposium in Munich.

MDT Nondas Vlachopoulos virtually attended the meeting.

What are the most important features and benefits of the new KATANA™ Zirconia YML?

Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi: KATANA™ Zirconia YML is a 5^th generation zirconia featuring next-generation multi-layered technology: it offers colour, translucency and flexural strength gradation in one disc – for a virtually unlimited indication range. As it may be used as the only zirconia or even ceramic CAD/CAM material in a laboratory or milling centre, it is designed for everyone who would like to simplify and standardize laboratory procedures. It may be sintered within 54 minutes, offers a high accuracy of fit and may be finished using time-saving techniques.

The new discs presented at the KATANA™ Zirconia YML Virtual Kick-Off Symposium.

Multi-layered structure of KATANA™ Zirconia YML.

What are the benefits of using a single zirconia for every indication from the dental technician’s perspective?

Nondas Vlachopoulos: The use of a universal zirconia solution with a high aesthetic potential and well-aligned mechanical properties allows dental technicians to reduce their inventory and streamline their procedures – from designing to finishing. Nowadays, we all know that, in order to optimize the outcomes, it is essential that we develop a deep understanding of a material’s properties, respect its design parameters (like minimum wall thicknesses) and adhere to the sintering protocols. It is much easier to accomplish this for a single material than for many different ceramics, and the potential for errors is minimized with a single-material approach. With KATANA™ Zirconia YML, this approach enables us to produce very different outcomes depending on where the restoration is placed in the multi-layered blank.

What are the benefits of using KATANA™ Zirconia YML as the only ceramic material from the dental practitioner’s perspective?

Florian Beuer: To my mind, the most important benefit of using a single zirconia every time lies in a simplified documentation. When different ceramic materials are used in the dental laboratory, we need to keep track of the material selected in every single case. Only in this way, it is possible to make the right cementation decisions (regarding cement selection and the appropriate pre-treatment of the restoration). In addition, when it comes to failure of the restoration, we need to know which material was used to prove that it has been processed correctly and is suitable for the actual indication. This is much easier when a single material is used every time. Zirconia is predestined for this approach as it is forgiving, supports minimally invasive preparations and – in case of KATANA™ Zirconia YML – almost everything can be done with it.

What are the secrets of KATANA™ Zirconia YML that allow for excellent treatment outcomes despite the one-for-all approach?

Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi: KATANA™ Zirconia YML is based on a completely new, seamless multi-layer technology combining different, newly developed raw materials with varying yttria concentrations in a single blank. The inhouse development of the powders and their precise adjustment of each other in terms of properties like shrinkage and coefficients of thermal expansion are prerequisites for a smooth transition from one layer to the next. Only if the layers are very well integrated, it will be possible to reliably produce even long-span restorations with a delicate design, perfect fit and flawless aesthetics (without transition lines). The aesthetic properties were also optimized by integrating clinical instead of purely technical translucency.

Please explain the term clinical translucency.

Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi: Usually, translucency of dental materials like zirconia is measured in its white, pre-shaded state. This so-called technical translucency value is increased by adding yttria to the formulation, which makes the zirconia itself appear brighter (increasing the whiteness). The translucency of the final restoration, however, is also affected by pigments and other additives in the formulation. Consequently, monolithic restorations made of different materials with the same technical translucency value may vary widely in terms of their actual, clinical translucency, which affect the overall aesthetic potential. The formulation of KATANA™ Zirconia YML has been optimized by carefully selecting and combining the right additives to obtain a natural, tooth-like translucency.

Translucency and shade appearance of KATANA™ Zirconia YML (left column) compared to various other 5^th generation zirconia materials.

Nondas Vlachopoulos, is this measure of optimizing the clinical translucency a key feature enabling the one-for-all approach of KATANA™ Zirconia YML?

Nondas Vlachopoulos: The positive effect attributed to this measure is noticeable, as KATANA™ Zirconia YML has a particularly warm and natural appearance especially in the body area some other materials with flexural strength gradation are lacking. This leads to an exact colour match with the VITA classical A1-D4 shade guide, and reduces the need for manual shade adjustments. This is important for a one-for-all approach, as the material should be a perfect basis for the production of monolithic restorations, which are not covered by a thick porcelain layer able to mask any imperfections. However, there is another key feature that facilitates the zirconia’s use for virtually every indication: Its exceptional design flexibility. It enables users to control the translucency and overall aesthetics by positioning the restoration quite freely within the blank. For restorations with up to three units, there is a complete freedom of placement. Larger restorations with four or more units need to be positioned in a way that at least 50% of the connector cross-section is in the bottom half of the disc. This is easily accomplished and gives us optimal options to exploit the various properties of each layer depending on the aesthetics and strength needed in each specific case.

Positioning guidelines for KATANA™ Zirconia YML.

What is the recommended finishing procedure?

Mathias Fernandez Y Lombardi: In principle, all designs and finishing options are available for KATANA™ Zirconia YML – from a monolithic design individualized with liquid ceramics to microlayering after a minimal vestibular cutback or even full ceramic layering on frameworks. As the aesthetic potential of the zirconia is already high, however, we believe that in most cases, the first option is absolutely sufficient. In this case, a monolithic restoration is milled and the surface subsequently treated with our liquid ceramic system CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain. The pastes are easily applied in ultra-thin layers, very well controllable and wear resistant.

Anterior and posterior crown made of KATANA™ Zirconia YML after sintering (left part) and after sintering and finishing with CERABIEN™ ZR FC PASTE STAIN (right part).

Nondas Vlachopoulos, what is your preferred finishing procedure for restorations made of KATANA™ Zirconia YML?

Nondas Vlachopoulos: In the posterior area, I often opt for monolithic restorations individualized with CERABIEN™ ZR FC Paste Stain. The technique leads to beautiful outcomes a large majority of patients would love to see even in the anterior region. However, as orders for the production of anterior restorations coming my way are usually placed by clinicians and patients with the highest possible aesthetic demands, I often go for a framework design and full porcelain layering with CERABIEN ZR Porcelains. The materials (like EX-3 portfolio for metal frameworks) are based on synthetic feldspathic porcelain with a structure and particle distribution very similar to natural dentin and enamel. All in all, I like the fact that I can select the most suitable finishing technique for every individual case, and I believe that it is often possible to reduce the finishing effort to a minimum.

Clinical translucency, design flexibility, mechanical properties: Apparently, the differences between the available zirconia materials – even of the 5^th generation – are huge. How can users ensure that the material they select is of high quality and offers favourable mechanical as well as optical properties?

Florian Beuer: When the first-generation zirconia materials appeared on the dental market, laboratory testing revealed that there are huge differences in quality between materials of different manufacturers. Although independent studies comparing the properties and behaviour of 5^th generation zirconia are still scarce, it may be assumed that differences do exist. My recommendation is to select a several materials from well-known manufacturers supporting clinical studies, compare the study results already available, and test the selected options in the laboratory setting. Directly comparing design concepts, the processing quality and final appearance will most likely reveal which material is a dental technician’s favourite. I am sure that KATANA™ Zirconia YML is among the materials worth being tested.

Thank you for this insightful conversation.

A while ago Mr. Takuro Nagura of Kuraray Noritake Dental put in an appearance at the Mardent Dental Trade event in Breda to provide some practice-oriented information to the attending dental technicians about the application of CERABIEN ZR FC Paste Stain in combination with KATANA™ Zirconia. The result was a fruitful afternoon, filled with questions, insights and tips.

Those in attendance were all dental technicians with ample experience of working with KATANA™ Zirconia. Mr. Takuro Nagura was therefore able to enjoy the experience of being surrounded by a group of enthusiastic KATANA™ fans, all of whom also use Noritake porcelain and PANAVIA™ V5 to their full satisfaction. The excellent aesthetics, perfect fit and ease of use were frequently-heard endorsements in favour of the use of Kuraray Noritake Dental products.

The session began with an introductory presentation, with an in-depth focus on the technical properties of the materials, instructions for baking, shade taking and staining techniques. Then it was time for the group to get started themselves. A KATANA™ Zirconia UTML molar and front crown had been prepared for each participant, and these were then characterised by means of CERABIEN ZR FC Paste Stain. The shades A+, Grayish Blue and Reddish Brown were used as starting points.

The entire front crown was first treated with glaze, after which external stain was applied; first in a horizontal direction, whereby dentine A+ was used cervically and enamel Greyish Blue incisal. Finally, dentine A+ was also applied vertically to emphasize the marmelon structure. Mr. Nagura offered the useful tip of first scratching in the eventual necessary crack lines with a sharp instrument such as a needle, and then colouring them in with external stain.

Glaze was initially applied to the full surface of the molar too, after which external stain was applied horizontally. A+ was used for the cervical and occlusal plane, with enamel Greyish Blue for the occlusal cusps. A+ was then applied to the vertical lines, and the fissures were finally coloured in using Reddish Brown.

Examples of staining with fc paste stain

Using different zirconia materials depending on the indication and on patient-specific needs allows for the best possible outcomes, yet comes with the danger of mixing up processing protocols. Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. (Kuraray Noritake Dental) eliminates this problem by offering a complete portfolio of KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered materials with harmonized sintering schedules. The latest member of the KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered Series, KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus, is available since September 1, 2021. In addition to the aligned sintering schedules, it offers an increased translucency and optimized colour without compromising its flexural strength.

KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus is based on its tried and proven predecessor KATANA™ Zirconia HTML and also offers a multi-layered colour structure and uniform strength distribution throughout the blank. It is suitable for a variety of indications including long-span bridges with a minimum wall thickness of just 0.4 mm in the anterior and 0.5 mm in the posterior region. This allows for minimally invasive preparations, while the user may choose between a monolithic, cut-back or framework design combined with the preferred finishing technique.

Careful in-house optimizations in the material composition and structure have paved the way for an increased translucency of 45 percent (compared to 43 percent KATANA™ Zirconia HTML) and an even more natural shade appearance of the manufactured restorations. The colour appears more vivid and more saturated, which leads to an improved optical integration with the adjacent teeth and gums. At the same time, the high flexural strength (1,150 MPa) is maintained, ensuring an unlimited range of indications.

When it comes to sintering, three options are available for single-tooth restorations and bridges with up to three units: a 54-minute high-speed sintering programme especifically valuable for remake and rush cases, a 90-minute programme and the traditional seven-hour sintering programme suitable for long-span restorations as well.

All three options and identical schedules are also available for the other materials of the portfolio: KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, KATANA™ Zirconia STML and the new KATANA™ Zirconia YML (yttria multi-layered) with additional flexural strength and translucency gradation. Due to this feature, standardizing manufacturing procedures for a minimized risk of errors and consistent outcomes becomes extraordinarily easy. More information about KATANA™ Zirconia HTML Plus and the whole product family is available at our website.

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.

We are pleased to share with you short training videos for Super Porcelain EX-3 porcelain.

Check out the below working steps and learn more about how to achieve outstanding aesthetics using this tried and proven material.