Blog - Page 2 of 3 - Arcus Laboratory

Slow cooling protocol improves fatigue life of zirconia restorations

One of the newer restorative materials used today in dentistry is zirconia. Zirconia has been used as a biomaterial for over 25 years. What Future for Zirconia as a Biomaterial? Although much has been written about zirconia, there is surprisingly little clinical research in the field of dentistry. The lack of research has created some challenges with understanding this material.

As mentioned, zirconia has a long history of use in the medical field but is relatively new to dentistry. Why has zirconia become popular in dentistry? There are some driving factors behind the increased popularity of zirconia.

In dentistry the standard of care for dental restorations has been gold and gold alloys. Gold alloys can have porcelain veneered to the outside to make tooth colored restorations. Gold prices have skyrocketed recently which has caused dentists to seek out less expensive alternatives.

The use of CAD/CAM technology has increased within dentistry. Dentists and labs are increasingly turning to this technology to replace tasks that were traditionally done by hand. Zirconia can be milled (CAM=computer aided milling) easier than other restorative materials. Zirconia milled for industrial applications has been used since the late 1970’s, with widespread use since the 1990’s. The mills used today for dental applications were originally developed for industrial uses. These industrial machines and methods have been adapted to suit the dental profession. Millions of zirconia dental restorations have been fabricated worldwide using machines and methods based on industrial technology and experience.

This excellent article addresses some of the common problems with zirconia restorations. Understanding the problems associated with zirconia allows me to use this material more comfortably in the proper situation. This can be said for all the restorative materials I use.

I cautiously use zirconia restorations. Like all of the restorations I make, I want to be aware of current research so I can be comfortable using newer materials. I never want to use a material solely because it is popular. I want to make sure my choice is evidence based.

Slow cooling protocol improves fatigue life of zirconia restorations. [pdf]

The Visual Encyclopedia of Teeth

Occlusal Table [pdf]

72 Central Incisors

Restoration Of The Anterior Maxilla With Ultraconservative Veneers: English Version

An article published in Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry May 1999 along with Dr. Jeff Rouse

Restoration Of The Anterior Maxilla With Ultraconservative Veneers: English Version [pdf]

Diagnostically Generated Anterior Tooth Preparation for Adhesively Retained Porcelain Restorations: Rationale and Technique

I co-authored this article with Dr. John Kois back in 2001. This article breaks the tooth down into three zones; incisal, middle and cervical. Many years ago dentists learned one type of preparation design. As materials and techniques change, so does the preparation design. Developments in adhesion dentistry allowed the clinician to preserve tooth structure and create a much more conservative preparation. My favorite part of the article is the quote: “The individual talents of the laboratory technician are far more important than the specific brand of porcelain used.”

Diagnostically Generated Anterior Tooth Preparation for Adhesively Retained Porcelain Restorations: Rationale and Technique [pdf]

A Systematic Approach to Recreate a Patient’s Former Smile

This article was published in Compendium by Dr. Ali Afshar in Edmonton, Alberta. Dr. Afshar was kind enough to include my work in his article.

A Systematic Approach to Recreate a Patient’s Former Smile [pdf]

Evidence Based Material Selection

I was asked by IDT to participate in an article about evidence based material selection. When it was my time to be interviewed the author had told me that she had talked to other contributors, and “Apparently, Evidence-Based doesn’t matter.” It was sad to hear this because I believe patients deserve better. Some of my comments still appeared in the article.

Dilemmas in choosing and using the latest all-ceramic materials [pdf]

Restoration Of The Anterior Maxilla With Ultraconservative Veneers: Spanish Version

An article published in Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry May 1999 along with Dr. Jeff Rouse. Thank you to Dr. Rouse for the Spanish version.

Restoration of the Anterior Maxilla With Ultraconservative Veneers: Spanish Version [pdf]

The Second Machine Age

The Director and Associate Director of MIT’s Center for Digital Business, Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAffee, have an interesting new book, The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. The authors compare our current technology revolution to the first machine age. They discuss creative ways for businesses to utilize, adapt, and prosper from this new technology. The authors spoke at Seattle’s Town Hall. It was obvious from the large crowd and the active audience participation that their topic is relevant and effecting so many people. This topic has had a huge impact on the dental laboratory profession, with more and more computers being used to help with the creation of dental restorations.

Listen to this podcast featuring Erik Brynjolffson and Andrew McAfee , talking about the book.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep119-second-machine-age-andrew-mcafee-erik-brynjolfsson/id1286827713?i=1000392400519

Quintessenz/Keramik

About a decade ago I helped a dental ceramic company develop colors for a new porcelain. The porcelain was designed to make it easier for dental technicians to match bleached teeth. At the time, I did not want to appear too commercial, so I allowed my article to be published in German only.

Quintessenz/Keramik [pdf]