Optimized for milling with the CEREC system, CEREC MTL Zirconia block offers both strength and esthetics, even in conservative preparations
Before switching to CEREC MTL Zirconia about a year and a half ago, Dr. Dhaval Patel struggled to find a zirconia block that met his needs. The strong options weren’t esthetic enough, and the esthetic options weren’t strong enough. Luckily, CEREC MTL Zirconia filled that gap thanks to its high strength, translucency, and color-matching characteristics, as well as a minimum wall thickness of 0.6 mm—a huge advantage.
“I don’t have to be ultra-aggressive with my prep,” said Dr. Patel, a CEREC user for over 15 years who frequently lectures and trains other dentists on the technology. “The next choice after zirconia would be porcelain, and if I use porcelain, I need to cut more tooth structure. Only having to remove 0.6 mm allows me to be more conservative and to save teeth from needing root canals.”
A More Efficient Workflow
Dr. Patel uses CEREC MTL Zirconia on areas without much tooth structure, or on second molars that don’t have a lot of clearance. “Second molars are known for being short, and it’s difficult to find a material that works,” he said. “CEREC MTL Zirconia works very well in these cases.”
The material also offers a speedy workflow—it takes about 5 minutes to design the crown and less than 5 minutes to mill it using the CEREC Primemill. Sintering in the CEREC SpeedFire oven takes just over 15 minutes, and then the restoration can be traditionally cemented in—no bonding required.
"CEREC MTL Zirconia has one of the fastest workflows of any other zirconia block on the market, with the entire appointment lasting about 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to finish," added Dr. Patel.
“The workflow is more efficient because of the SpeedFire oven and because the block is optimized for milling with the CEREC system,” he said. “The restorations can be traditionally cemented without bonding, making cleanup quick. And, you can prepare the tooth in the traditional manner so you don’t need to learn new prep techniques.”
Strength and Durability
Because of its strength and the fact it can be cemented in, Dr. Patel relies on CEREC MTL Zirconia for cases with deep caries or fractures, limited interocclusal space, and for patients who are grinders and bruxers. “It's a one-block-fi ts-all kind of restorative, especially for molars,” Dr. Patel said. “It can be used virtually anywhere, and because it’s so strong, the prep doesn’t need to be well defined.”
Ultimately, said Dr. Patel, the goal of restorative dentistry is to remove as little tooth structure as possible. “If you’re prepping a tooth conservatively, the restoration itself is thin. So, if you use a material that isn’t strong enough, it’s more likely to fracture,” he said. “Because of this block’s flexural strength, you can use it in areas where you can’t remove a lot of tooth structure. It gives me confidence I’m providing my patients with beautiful restorations that will last.”
Dr. Patel has received research funding and speaking fees from Dentsply Sirona.
