Product Evaluation

BISCO

ZirClean Evaluation

By cleaning restorations which have been contaminated during intraoral try-in, ZirClean helps achieve reliable adhesive cementation results

Because of its extraordinary strength and excellent esthetics, zirconia is becoming increasingly more popular for use in dental restorations. However, there is a downside to using zirconia for crowns. During try-in, the phos­phate in saliva forms an ionic bond with zirconia, and the phosphate is difficult to remove from the inner surface of the crown. To successfully remove the ionic bond, an alkaline solution is required.

BISCO makes this process easier with their unique cleaning gel, ZirClean, that cleans the bonding surface of a zirconia, ceramic, or metal restoration after intraoral try-in. According to BISCO, ZirClean non-abrasively removes phosphate and other con­taminants from the inside of the crown, which helps achieve reliable adhesive cementation results.

Because he wants the best outcomes for his patients, Dr. John Leitner was excited to try ZirClean in his own dental practice. “I want the best bond possible, and using ZirClean gave me peace of mind, knowing I’m doing all I can to ensure a strong bond,” he explained. Dr. Leitner and several other dentists experimented with ZirClean during this 4-week evaluation and discovered that, when combined with other crucial steps in the cementation process, ZirClean is a reliable cementing protocol solution for zirconia restorations.

Viscosity, Handling, & Placement

Available in a 5-gram syringe with disposable mixing tips, ZirClean is easy to dispense and place exactly where it’s needed. After placement, it takes 20 seconds for the material to perform its cleaning protocol and is then rinsed off with water. “I like the user-friendly, sleek design of the syringe, which is better than the bottle option,” noted Kapish Goyal, DDS. He said ZirClean allowed for consistent application across the surface but suggested a wider orifice of the mixing tip. Dr. Joseph DeLapa liked the material’s viscosity best, while Dr. James DeFilippo said, “It’s a little runny, should be slightly thicker.” Agreeing that the gel “could be a touch thicker,” Frank Friedman, DMD praised its “excellent properties,” and noted, “It handles much better than any zirconia cleaner I’ve used.” Dr. Leitner added, “It stays where you put it,” and Dr. Etta Lobel agreed, stating, “It stayed in place for the 20 seconds and it was easy to use.”

Ease of Rinse Off & Time Savings

ZirClean is thoroughly rinsed off with a spray of water, according to BISCO, making cleanup efficient. “It’s easy to rinse off,” Dr. DeLapa said. The gel is blue in color, which is especially helpful during the rinsing process. “It was easy to see that it completely rinsed off the crown,” said Dr. DeFilip­po. When asked if he would recommend ZirClean to colleagues, Dr. Friedman replied, “I would recommend it because of its value and ease of use, especially clean up.”

Because it took less time to clean the crown, Dr. Goyal said it reduced the overall chair time needed to cement the crown. “It was easy to prep the crown and easy to train my assistant,” he shared. Dr. Lobel said the cleaning process “took a little extra time, but I think it’s worth it.” Noting that BISCO’s etchant is the same color as ZirClean and has the same delivery sys­tem, Dilip Dudhat, DMD, suggested that, to avoid confusion, ZirClean should be a different color or have a different delivery system. Overall, Dr. Dudhat was impressed with ZirClean and said it “impacted his practice positively by saving time and being easy to use.”

Improved Bond Strength*

Indicated for extraoral cleaning of pre-treated ceramic, zirconia, and metal restoration surfaces which have been contaminated during intraoral try-in, ZirClean helps achieve reliable adhesive cementation results. “By cleaning and removing phosphate contamination from intaglio after intraoral try-in, ZirClean helps increase bonding strength, primarily to zirconia,” shared Dr. Friedman. Dr. Lobel pointed out that “it cleaned the inside of the crowns after try-in to increase bond strength” when compared to non-treated surfaces and said ZirClean is especially helpful when bonding more than one or two crowns in an area. “With ZirClean, I know I am giving it the best chance,” she added. Calling ZirClean a great addition to his cementing protocol for zirconia restorations, Dr. Steven Edelson noted that the cleaning process is just one of several steps required for successful retention. “If you have a situation where the fit of the crown is less than ideal or the prep is very short, anything that will help the crown stay cemented longer is beneficial,” con­cluded Dr. DeFilippo.

"I believe that ZirClean is the new gold standard. Its unique chemistry sets it apart so it can be used for a variety of crowns."
-Kapish Goyal, DDS
Virginia Beach, VA

Overall Satisfaction

All the evaluators agreed they would recommend ZirClean to colleagues, including Dr. Dudhat, who said, “ZirClean is a great product to achieve success. It’s easy to apply [and is beneficial for] all cases that have poor retention or a strong bond is required.” Dr. Goyal concluded, “I believe that ZirClean is the new gold stan­dard. Its unique chemistry sets it apart so it can be used for a variety of crowns.”

Takeaways

•Cleans the bonding surface of a zirconia, ceramic, or metal crown after intraoral try-in
•Easy to dispense in a user-friendly 5-gram syringe with disposable mixing tips
•Stays in place for 20 seconds then easily rinses away with water
•Provides a better bonding surface by removing phosphate and other contaminants*