Uses of zirconium in dentistry

The supporting skeleton of ceramic works. It is the most important use of zircon. Zirconia frameworks will be particularly strong and aesthetically pleasing, and can be used for both simple dental crowns and full bridges.

Full zirconia prosthetics

In some cases, especially on the back teeth, dental crowns or bridges can be made of full zirconia without a ceramic layer. These will have a white colour, while retaining all the advantages of zirconia.

Dental implants

Not the whole implant will be made of zirconia but only the artificial bridge, i.e. the part of the implant over which the prosthetic work will be done. In order to achieve the best aesthetic results, it is recommended that zirconium prosthetic work is also carried out over zirconium dental implants.

Zirconium is processed exclusively by computerised milling, requiring sophisticated high-precision machines. The stages of zirconium framework fabrication involve much less participation of the dental technician, with most of the phases being carried out using automated systems.

They are highly advanced systems that can be used to produce both zirconia and all-ceramic work. They are basically made up of 2 parts. The scanner: is a computerised system that takes 3D images of the dental impression or plaster model. After registering these images, the computer can design a wide variety of dental work: from single crowns to complex dental bridges. The machine uses technology similar to that used in the aviation industry. Design accuracy is extremely high, with a margin of error of less than 20 microns. After design, the computer sends the data to the milling machine. Milling machine: this is the system that mills the zirconia blocks according to the information received from the computer. It uses special milling cutters with pinpoint accuracy.

- After completion of tooth preparation by grinding, a full impression of the dental arches is taken;
- Pour the plaster models, then place the models or the impression in the computer scanner. This will create a three-dimensional image of the prosthetic case;
- Enter the data specific to the clinical case into the computer. It will design the work and send the information to the milling machine;
- The milling machine will execute the skeleton of the work by cutting from the zirconia blocks. The precision is perfect.
- After milling, the zirconium framework is placed in a special furnace at temperatures above 1500 degrees Celsius for 6-7 hours. This operation is called sintering and is designed to increase the strength of the zirconium to breakage and tensile strength.
After completion, the skeleton is sent to the dentist's office for a fitting. If the work is to be made entirely of zirconium, the CAD/CAM system will be programmed into the final execution of the work.
The artificial bridges used in dental implants are prefabricated and come in sets of various shapes and sizes.