Dental milling zirconia

Zirconia is a non-metallic biocompatible material that has been used in medicine for almost forty years. Its wide use in dentistry is relatively recent and is due to its biological and mechanical properties, making it a valid alternative on a clinical and cost competitive level.

This ceramic has a high straight flexural tensile strength (900-1200 MPa), a lower degree of hardness than alumina (1200 Vickers versus almost 1600) but still sufficiently good, and a Weibull modulus of 10-12. Thanks to its marked osteoconductivity, it produces a tissue phlogistic reaction inferior to that of titanium. This means that in the healing site of a titanium implant the inflammatory factors and the phlogistic infiltrate are more represented than in that of a zirconia implant, without affecting the correct osseointegration.

Another positive finding concerns bacterial plaque, of which dental zirconium oxide is considered non-retentive material. Consequently, the concentrations of bacterial metabolism products are also lower at the healing site of the zirconia implant. It even appears to have the property of self-regulating the turnover of the extracellular matrix by acting on the expression of the relevant genes.

Zirconium oxide discs and blocks

Dental milling zirconia for CAD/CAM is one of the biggest innovations in the dental sector in recent years. In addition to the production of implants and related components, it is also suitable for the fabrication of overlying prosthetic structures. In addition, CAD/CAM technology has made it possible to fabricate ceramic restorations in the anterior and posterior regions with good esthetic results, especially in terms of translucency.

The range includes 88ZB zirconia milling discs and blocks and the Aidite line, compatible with the main CAD/CAM systems on the market, including Sirona, Kavo and Amann Girrbach.