Crafting a great dental restoration is as much an art as a science. But until recently, even the most talented artists in the field were limited by the materials available to them. Just ask Jungo Endo, RDT, a dental technician who, for nearly 30 years, has specialized in creating highly esthetic implant-supported restorations using ceramics.
When Endo opened his Santa Monica, CA, dental studio in 2012, he estimates that 95% of the restorations he produced were porcelain-fused-to-metal. An industry standard at the time, it afforded strong restorations but doubled down on the esthetic dilemma. “When I started using zirconia, it was very opaque and only available in 1 shade,” said Endo, calling the material’s color an unsightly “chalky white.”
Fast-forward to today, he reports that zirconia restorations make up most of the work done in his studio. Specifically, LayZir All Indication Zirconia Discs have become his go-to for fabricating esthetically demanding restorations. According to Endo, LayZir uniquely allows his artistry to shine through. The difference, he said, is the material’s value control, or brightness. “I’ve used layered zirconia from different companies before and never got ideal results,” Endo shared. “Most have nice translucency, but only LayZir provides the luminosity that comes close to natural dentition.”
Making a Masterpiece with LayZir
Available in 12 shades, LayZir incorporates multi-dimensional gradation technology that seamlessly blends 3Y and 5Y zirconia. This optimizes strength throughout the restoration, while also delivering excellent esthetics. The material’s cervical layer features an industry-leading 1,450 MPa flexural modulus, while its enamel layer boasts a stunning 44% translucency that’s perfect for high-profi le anterior cases.
Given how well LayZir balances performance and esthetics, Endo doesn’t hesitate to use it for everything from single crowns to full-arch restorations. Here, he shares a recent case in which he used LayZir to masterfully create a fixed full-arch implant-supported prosthesis.
