Terri Lively

	Dentists and labs looking to deliver durable, esthetic indirect restorations have plenty of options. One such option is to work with Zirlux to deliver highly esthetic, full-contour restorations.

can be prescribed for copings, crowns, bridges including long span bridges, inlays and onlays.

Zirlux full-contour zirconia is formulated to provide an alternative to a traditional PFM that exceeds both clinical and patient demand for superior esthetics, strength and function. Even the most challenging cases can be fabricated using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology and 

We recently spoke to both a dentist and a lab about their experience in working with Zirlux FC2. Here’s what they had to say:

What the clinician had to say about Zirlux FC2

Dr. Joseph Giovannone, DDS, of Utica, N.Y.

 has been practicing since 1980 and says:

I mostly prescribed high noble PFMs over the 30-plus years I have practiced. My experience with hand-built PFMs has been very successful, but, like most dentists, I had the occasional failure of hand-built feldspathic porcelain, some consistency issues, not to mention the ever-increasing cost of high noble alloy and labor. As my dental laboratory transitioned to digital processes, I prescribe full-contour zirconia crowns and bridges for my posterior restorations.

DLP: You didn’t initially like zirconia products. Why?

JG: It was hard as a rock and it was hard to learn to work with. I also liked to use lithium disilicate because it’s prettier. But Zirlux FC2 is catching up because they are getting more color and translucency in the material. Not quite the same as lithium disilicate, but it’s definitely closer.

DLP: What have you noticed is a benefit since you converted to using Zirlux in your cases?

JG: As dentists, we have to be aware of grinding. Bruxers of any kind will damage dental work so it’s important to get them (the patients) into nightguards. Most grinders will damage a traditional PFM crown, particularly in the posterior teeth. Zirlux zirconia holds up well against grinders. Zirconia has much more strength than lithium disilicate. I prefer the zirconia for the posterior. The front teeth take less stress so you have more options for materials.

Also, the whole CAD/CAM computer age and the technology is so accurate and efficient that the fits are great. We don’t have to do as many adjustments in the chair. This process is done more effectively, more efficiently and more accurately and the crowns are less likely to break.

Artistic digital design and esthetic zirconia milled restoration using Zirlux FC2

JG: It seems to go smoother and faster with better contact during the final fitting and you don’t have to make as many adjustments to the bite and the contact.

You can prepare the teeth the same way. There are nice shapers you can do with Zirlux though. But you still do all of the same things you used to do when you use a PFM with metal coping. So it’s not a big change. You can still do your same technique. You still do the same crown. You just adjust them less.

Biogenic Dental Corporation and Affiliates

There are an awful lot of materials on the market. I probably get a new zirconia product to try everyday in the mail as a free sample. It comes down to, ‘Does this material have the quality to do what we want it to do?’ The Zirlux FC2 system does. The Zirlux material is pre-shaded and that’s huge from a matching anterior tooth perspective. What we have found with multiple units, full mouth rehab and lower anteriors, FC2 is good for matching A1 and A2, the brighter shades. Plus with Zirlux, the fact that you are dealing with reputable companies that are interested in your business, like 

DLP: Can you please explain why this product is best for the most challenging cases?

PG: They give you a high level of strength in a posterior tooth, even more than with a PFM. Zirlux FC2 also allows for a monolithic crown. To have a monolithic crown, we can keep a 1/2mm of material and still be strong. In the case of Zirlux, we can tell the clinician to ‘stay in the enamel, prep less.’

DLP: How does Zirlux FC2 help your bottom line?

PG: A lot of laboratories have changed to using monolithic for PFMs because we are geared to do this; a monolithic crown is way more efficient and less expensive to make.

From a business standpoint, using Zirlux is a win-win situation by providing a better quality crown for the clinician and a better business model for the lab. Efficiency is paramount for a dental lab. We must make crowns for a reasonable amount. Pre-shaded Zirlux allows us to do that.

DLP: Can you explain the benefits of the simple stain and glaze technique?

PG: Since the system has five pre-shaded discs, some of the cases are going to need some added color. We can stain or glaze pretty simply.

The one thing we do is a diamond polish on any occluding surfaces after glazing. The pre-shaded quality of Zirlux becomes an important factor at this point. When you use materials that are strictly surface stained, you’ll end up with white spots and we don’t get that with Zirlux FC2.

DLP: How have the changes in the material science helped the dental lab industry perform better for clinicians?

PG: Material science is moving as fast as technology, which is important at this stage. The first materials were awful; to use the words of big advertising companies, ‘they were the beast, not the beauty.’

It’s always about quality. It’s always about the product we provide to the doctors. Today, as we have evolved … what a change in acceptance. What a change in the translucency and the appearance. The materials are evolving. We are looking forward to the next level. Products like Zirlux FC2 are only getting better.

This article originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of DLP. To learn more about current lab products, subscribe to DLP's newsletter: 

Articles

 Dentists and labs looking to deliver durable, esthetic indirect restorations have plenty of options. One such option is to work with Zirlux to deliver highly esthetic, full-contour restorations.

Real Time ROI: Zahn Dental’s Zirlux FC2 full-contour zirconia

	A challenge faced by any business today is how to do more with less. It’s not different in the dental industry.

Finding ways to make your practice more efficient for patient treatment as well as providing more organized systems for scheduling, billing and payment recording for your team can be a challenge for the best dental practices.

, a practice management software solution from 

, does just that with its easy to learn and use office management system. This web-based system allows the clinician to manage his practice in ways the competition never has before, making this system a real breakthrough for the practices that use it, plus it allows the clinician to do what he or she does best-treat patients.

What an experienced practice management expert had to say about the Curve Hero Dental Software Management System.

, I bring many years of experience with practice management and practice operations. Our firm streamlines the dental transition process for young doctors, getting them going from an operational standpoint. In 2010, we were looking for a system that was easy to use and easy to train people on because transitions are really tough on teams. Curve Hero Software has helped to streamline that process for us for the past four years.

I love a lot of things about Curve Hero. I really like the intuitive workflow of Curve. It is by far the shortest learning curve of any practice management software I have used and I have used basically all of them.

From a real practical standpoint, I think its billing feature, meaning having invoices rather than a ledger, puts its competitors to shame. In terms of reconciling what patients owe and what it’s for, it’s the easiest to use I’ve ever seen.

What have been the results and/or patient responses?

Our patients don’t see Curve directly but we do use it. We use patient education videos in the operatories on monitors. We are able to review X-rays or pictures with them real time. It’s definitely very sleek and has a cool factor for our patients.

As far as our results with our overall systems, our teams have a go-to-one-place-for- everything system. It helps to manage our patient flow and overall practice management.

What benefits to the offices have you seen as a result of the software?

I find Curve to be very useful in evaluating practice data. It allows us to build custom reports that export to Excel. This is the best thing ever because then you can actually do something with your information instead of just printing it to a static piece of paper. It’s super versatile and so much smarter than its competitors in that regard.

Also the system gives us access to less obvious successes and problems. This allows us to be proactive, nimble and flexible in our practice management style to stay ahead of any concerning trends.

Why would you recommend this product to your colleagues?

As Curve says, “it is seriously cool”. Curve just always works. It’s always updated and it’s always backed up. It’s really easy to navigate. Plus, you never have to deal with network or server problems because you don’t need one. Their customer service is top notch. I have never had a problem that they didn’t fix for me.

We were in to this product early and I’ve never regretted a moment. It’s an integral piece of Stepping Stone’s program. I would want clinicians to know that it is a very easy to use and comprehensive practice management solution.

This article originally appeared in the June 2014 issue of Dental Products Report. For more great articles about products in action, 

click here to subscribe to DPR: http://bit.ly/17ocF5z

 A challenge faced by any business today is how to do more with less. It’s not different in the dental industry.