3M introduces 3M Chairside Zirconia

Chairside CAD/CAM dentistry has promised convenience since its inception, including the advent of the single-visit crown; however, with convenience can come compromise. While software and equipment technology has advanced continuously, materials have struggled to keep pace. A strong material might appear lifeless in the mouth, while a more esthetic material may crack or fracture.

Recognizing the need for a well-balanced alternative that maximizes new high-speed sintering technology, 3M is introducing 3M™ Chairside Zirconia - a new CAD/CAM zirconia block optimized for the fast-sintering CEREC^® SpeedFire Furnace¹. The new block is said to offer an optimal blend of high strength and esthetics to go along with a fast sintering time of approximately 20 minutes^2,3 for a thin-walled crown.

“The esthetics and better sintering time of 3M™ Chairside Zirconia have made this my go-to zirconia material,” says Daniel Butterman, DDS. “It polishes very easily and has a good level of translucency. I see no need to glaze this material.”

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For easy shade matching, the material is available in eight different shades and two block sizes designed for crowns and three-unit bridges⁴ to match the VITA^® classical shades. Additionally, due to its low minimum wall thickness of 0.8 mm, dentists are reportedly able to carry out less invasive preparations and preserve more tooth structure.

“The overall promise of chairside dentistry has always been efficiency in a single-visit appointment,” says Karen Burquest, global business leader, 3M Oral Care. “Our new zirconia is designed for high-speed sintering to deliver even more efficiency without compromises in strength or esthetics.”

3M Chairside Zirconia offers a high flexural strength option of more than 800 MPa and has a fracture toughness that meets stringent ISO standards. This reportedly gives it ideal strength for single-unit crowns and three-unit bridges.

The cementation process is simplified as well, with the option to use either 3M™ RelyX™ Luting Plus Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cement or 3M™ RelyX™ Unicem 2 Self-Adhesive Resin Cement. These easy-to-use, reliable cement options are said to offer trusted solutions for dentists' chairside zirconia needs.

3M Chairside Zirconia will be featured and available for pre-ordering at the Chicago Midwinter meeting Feb. 21-24, 2019. 3M Chairside Zirconia will officially launch at IDS in March. Product will be available for sale in the U.S. on May 1, 2019. 

For more information about 3M Chairside Zirconia, visit 3M.com/ChairsideZirconia or call 1-800-634-2249.

References

1. 3M provides sintering parameters for ovens capable of sintering zirconia in less than 2 hours.  Please review the 3M Chairside Zirconia Instructions for Use for sintering details.

2. CEREC^® SpeedFire furnace, restorations with particular designs (parameter integrated in CEREC® software; wall thickness 1.2 mm or less).

3. 19.6 min for small, thin walled crowns; 22.4 min for all other crowns.

4. With one pontic supported on each side by a crown.