Zirconium

For many years, a metal substructure was used under porcelain teeth for durability in porcelain applications. As the shortcomings of this metal substructure in terms of gums, tooth tissue, overall health and, most importantly, aesthetics were known, the search for an alternative material to metal in porcelain substructures has been ongoing for years.

The introduction of zirconium, previously used successfully in other fields of medicine, as a replacement for the porcelain metal in dentistry has brought about a new era.

Because these new zirconium-based porcelain veneers, in addition to not causing gum problems or allergies, also provide aesthetics and functionality close to natural teeth with their light transmission properties.

Crowns and bridges made of porcelain on zirconium are known by the short name CERCON, which is a combination of the words Ceramic and Zirconium. With a resistance of 900 MPa, this system has initiated a whole new era of dentistry, offering the highest physical values, light transparency, tissue compatibility, and many different indications.

The success of the material has been proved in the medical and industrial fields. As a result of research which started in 1998, clinical applications have been started worldwide since the beginning of 2002. With this new application, aesthetic concerns arising from metal-ceramic and all-ceramic restorations in patients are completely eliminated.

• Single tooth crown restorations
• 3–6 unit bridges (up to 38 mm anatomical length)
• Implant-supported crown and bridge work

Until recently, zirconium oxide was not used in dental applications due to its high cost of production. Thanks to a project developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, zirconium oxide has become economically available for use in dentistry. Zirconium has also used in medicine since the 1960s, and long-term studies have proved the reliability of the material.

Zirconium has been used for various purposes in different parts of the body, primarily in hip joint prostheses, and so far, no side effects or harm have been detected, and no allergy has been identified.

Zirconium is an element that is resistant to high temperatures and impacts, lightweight, non-conductive of heat and Electricity, and can transmit light.

It is additionally a healthy material that does not cause taste disturbances, gum problems, or bad breath in the mouth.

A dental wax model is prepared based on the measurements taken from your tooth. A computer-assisted device prepares the substructure of your teeth by grinding a zirconium oxide block according to the information taken from this model. The process is then completed by placing ceramic of the appropriate colour on the structures prepared by the grinding process.

Now, with the new high-tech zirconium oxide, metal-free, strong and aesthetic restorations can be made successfully.

Cercon applications also have some important advantages for users. Cercon ceramic placed on a zirconium oxide substructure reduces the rate of food debris and microorganisms adhering to the tooth surface. This provides better oral hygiene. Zirconium oxide does not transmit heat, so you will not experience sensitivity in your teeth when eating hot or cold foods.

Cercon: a product of the highest quality achieved to date in terms of esthetics, durability, tissue compatibility and naturality, which are the basic necessities of modern dentistry.