Fabrication of Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Ceramic Restorations Using a Complete Digital Workflow

Abstract

This case report describes the fabrication of monolithic all-ceramic restorations using zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramics. The use of powder-free intraoral scanner, generative fabrication technology of the working model, and CAD/CAM of the restorations in the dental laboratory allows a completely digitized workflow. The newly introduced ZLS ceramics offer a unique combination of fracture strength (>420 MPa), excellent optical properties, and optimum polishing characteristics, thus making them an interesting material option for monolithic restorations in the digital workflow.

Effect of Surface Finishing Methods and Aging on Surface Roughness and Optical Properties of Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Glass-Ceramic

“…4 Among these materials, zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate glass-ceramic (ZLS) was introduced as a novel monolithic CAD-CAM material for the construction of crowns, implant suprastructures, inlays, and onlays. [5][6][7] Currently, two different ZLS glass-ceramics (VITA Suprinity PC and Celtra Duo) are available with different sizes of lithium metasilicate crystals. 8 Both of these ZLS glass-ceramics claimed to combine the optical properties of glass ceramics (56-64% silica content) and mechanical properties of zirconia (8-14% zirconia content).…”

“…8 Both of these ZLS glass-ceramics claimed to combine the optical properties of glass ceramics (56-64% silica content) and mechanical properties of zirconia (8-14% zirconia content). 5,8,9 These materials have a fine-grained (0.5-0.7 μm) 5 and uniform microstructure 10 with characteristic needle-shaped crystals. 11 The crystal phase content of ZLS glass-ceramics (40-50%) is lower than that in lithium disilicate glass ceramic (70%).…”

Impact of crystallization firing process on the microstructure and flexural strength of zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate glass-ceramics

“…The constant search for all-ceramic restorative materials that combine aesthetics and strength has contributed to the development of reinforced glass-ceramics [i.e., zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) glass-ceramics] by the companies Vita and Dentsply, in conjunction with the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (Germany), and marketed separately as different products, i.e., Vita Suprinity (Vita) and Celtra Duo (Dentsply) [1,2]. Both ZLS glass-ceramics are indicated for inlays, onlays, full-contour anterior and posterior crowns, and also for implant-supported prostheses [3,4]. The glassy matrix of vitreous ceramics is highly susceptible to crack propagation [5] and to degradation under fatigue loads [1].…”

“…ZLS glass-ceramics are marketed in a pre-processed state, available as pre-fabricated ceramic blocks, which allows for fewer internal flaws and a high-quality and reliable ceramic restoration produced in a mechanized/subtractive way [3]. To make the milling process easier, ZLS glass-ceramics are available in a meta-sintered (intermediate) stage and only after undergoing a CFP in which the lithium silicate crystals will grow and the ceramic gains its final color and strength [1,11].…”

Effect of Material Type and Thickness on Fatigue Resistance of Posterior Bonded Occlusal Veneers

“…Moreover, all the crystalline components are relatively small (approximately 0.5µm) so that only a limited amount of light refraction is possible, the result is a zirconia reinforced lithium silicate ceramic (ZLS). This glass ceramic has a special fine-grained and uniform structure which forms a material with good quality and stable at high load capacity, and reliability (6,7) .…”