Dental CE Course: The Total System Approach for Ceramic Restorations in a Competitive Market

The advent of metal-free restorations and the esthetic benefits they offer has greatly expanded the options for restorative choices beyond the days of porcelain fused-to-metal, full-gold crowns, and cast inlays/onlays. Because of the wide variety of materials and designs available, it is becoming more common for the dental laboratory to receive 'combination cases'. Very often, an all-ceramic laminate veneer may be placed next to a PFM bridge, full-coverage all ceramic crown, or other type of restoration. Because the various technologies (PFM, pressed ceramics, milled ceramics) and materials (various alloys, alumina, and zirconia) were developed and introduced at different times, laboratories found themselves with a variety of ceramic systems for the different technologies. Unfortunately, many of the systems were not compatible from a color standpoint due to different approaches in shade matching by the variety of manufacturers of ceramic veneering material. These differences unfortunately become very apparent when a combination case needs to be fabricated.
Fortunately, a "Total System" approach can be achieved with VITA's VM™13, VM™9, and PM™9 porcelain systems. Porcelain fused-to-metal, layered YZ, and pressed-to-YZ and/or pressed full-contour restorations can be fabricated in an efficient, predictable, and profitable manner with these systems. The combination case is no longer the challenge it used to be, nor is it necessary for the patient to accept a compromise in esthetics due to different restorations being placed next to each other.
This comprehensive 2-day lecture/demonstration/hands-on course will include color theory and the VITA 3D-Master Shade System, shade taking procedures for both metal and metal-free restorations, and a thorough review of the porcelain systems mentioned above. The philosophy of 'form follows function' will also be presented along with a demonstration of Bill Mrazek's Functional Build-up Technique which incorporates all of the functional movements, occlusal contacts, anatomy, and contours in the build-up, regardless of number of powders used.
Upon registration, participants will be provided with prepped models to articulate, and then create a single posterior casting designed with a buccal porcelain butt margin. The casting should be degassed and ready for opaque application prior to arriving at the course. Each participant will also be supplied with an anterior YZ coping ready for porcelain application, and two pressed restorations (one for layering, and one for full-contour staining and glazing).
Participants need to bring personal ceramic instruments, brushes, an electric handpiece, and diamonds and/or stones to finish porcelain. All other materials will be provided by Vident.