Here is a new report on zirconia

[Travis]

The lastest CRA (Clinical Research Associates) report on zirconia restorations.

[sixonice]

Thanks for posting this report Travis. This is not the best news for zirconia folks. Dr. Gordon Christiansen (founder & CEO of CRA-Clinical Research Associates) has many dentist "followers". It is amazing that when he gives the "thumbs-up"... how a product or material can prosper & when he gives a less than ideal evaluation....that it can cause a big ripple. I personally do not think this is to much to worry about, although I have talked to some friends about this report already. We all will probably receive a few calls from dentists. We just have to be prepared to help the dentist understand it is a very good material WHEN PROCESSED CORRECTLY. Looking at the pictures of the failures, it is very clear that these units were overlayered, underfired or ground on. The delaminations I believe were caused in part to perhaps no liner being used before the bulk build up. Liners are a very important step in obtaining a strong, sound bond between zirconia and ceramic overlay. The pictures also "scream out" a under-supported zirconia coping. Labs have spent millions on zirconia milling systems. We are all still learning and fine-tuning better processing techniques for zirconia. I suppose time will tell with the impact.

[DMC]

That data is more than one year old. The porcelain was underfired on the LavaCeram unit. I have heard stories round and round about this test. Dr Christiansen's wife is a poor scientist and tester IMO.



I've used LavaCeram for years. ??? (Made in same place as GC)

[Al.]

Originally Posted by DMC

That data is more than one year old. The porcelain was underfired on the LavaCeram unit. I have heard stories round and round about this test. Dr Christiansen's wife is a poor scientist and tester IMO.



I've used LavaCeram for years. ??? (Made in same place as GC)

Well mabey the makers of LavaCeram didnt donate as many $'s as the makers of GC towards Christiansen's scientific studies.

[TheLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Al.

Well mabey the makers of LavaCeram didnt donate as many $'s as the makers of GC towards Christiansen's scientific studies.

sad but true.......

[Pronto]

We have have only one failure of porcelain on a YZ coping. It was caused by an interferance in an excursion. Other than that no issues with either Noritaki or Vita on YZ delaminating. The good thing about the gurus are eventually they fade away when enough people see through the bs.

[SSDS]

One of the issues with the CRA report I have heard of is that his porcelain furnaces are not correctly calibrated, another big area of potential fractures. You guys are right some of these do look under fired and under supported.