Move Your Implant Restorations Chairside

Miscommunications with the lab, long shipping times, and other logistical hurdles are familiar challenges for any dentist relying on a lab workflow for implant restorations. That includes Dr. Bilyana Tesic, a general dentist in Monterey, CA. That said, she recently put a new block to the test, KATANA Zirconia ONE for Implant, and her problems may be all but solved.

Delivery from Weeks to Hours

A fan of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s KATANA Zirconia and PANAVIA SA Cement Universal, Dr. Tesic was excited to try out the pre-sintered zirconia, which would give her the freedom to create either a hybrid abutment crown or a hybrid abutment from a single block.

“From a clinical standpoint, the biggest difference using KATANA Zirconia ONE for Implant is the ability to control all the parameters of restoration—emergence profile, shape, occlusion, color match—instead of having to communicate a request to the lab either verbally, in writing, or using intraoral photos,” Dr. Tesic explained. “This process removes the chances for miscommunication as well as long shipping times from the equation."

Built on Kuraray Noritake Dental’s multilayer technology—4 layers of zirconia in carefully graduated shades that mimic the natural gradation of tooth structure—KATANA Zirconia ONE for Implant includes an integrated abutment access hole.

Available in 10 shades with a flexural strength of 933 MPa, the block comes in 2 types—S and L—to match different access hole diameters.

“Kuraray just shortened the wait time from 2 weeks when sending impressions to the lab to about 2 hours, which is pretty incredible,” Dr. Tesic said. “I love the reliability and trustworthiness of KATANA Zirconia and how it seamlessly integrates into the CEREC ecosystem."

She added that any time an implant crown needs to be delivered, the patient inevitably has a wedding to attend, family photos to take, or a flight to catch.

"Having control over all the aspects of restoration design, milling, sintering, and delivery removes the majority of the unnecessary stress," she continued. "It's a win-win for both patient and dentist.”

Cement Strongly

When it’s time to cement, Dr. Tesic reaches for PANAVIA SA Cement Universal, which uses a powerful, single-step bonding formula to make cementation easier, cleaner, and more versatile than ever. Often, with new technology comes new materials, and they all need to be treated in a particular way. But this self-adhesive resin cement contains the LCSi monomer, a unique silane coupling agent that allows adhesion to virtually every material without the need for a separate primer. It also contains the original MDP monomer, which Dr. Tesic said has "revolutionized bonding."

“PANAVIA SA Cement Universal simplifies the cementation workflow and is exceptionally easy to clean," she added."Considering that residual cement can trigger mucositis and peri-implantitis, its ease of cleanup is doubly reassuring.”

Zirconia That Shines

One reason KATANA Zirconia shines anywhere in the oral cavity is the proprietary KATANA Zirconia powder, which is developed in-house by Kuraray Noritake Dental. This allows the company to control every step of the process—from grain size to sintering temperature.

“Kuraray is a multilayered zirconia pioneer that has been perfecting its product for over a decade,” Dr. Tesic agreed. “It is a trusted, high-quality brand and it was only a natural next step to branch out into implant restorations.KATANA Zirconia ONE for Implant allows for a faster, better, and more precise final fit.”

Patients Are Priority

Ultimately, the true test of an advanced technology paired with a strong and esthetic restorative material boils down to one thing: the patient experience.

“Patients are excited to see their care is being delivered using the latest technological advances, and they appreciate the personalization,” Dr. Tesic said. “Any notable characteristics in the shade and shape of adjacent dentition can be added to the new restoration, which allows it to blend more seamlessly."