Zirconium oxide – where other materials will fail.

Take a good look at the brake discs of a new Porsche! Consider how the Space Shuttle tolerates the enormous heat generation. In pumps, cutting tools and internal combustion engines, here is the secret: zirconium oxide. Without exception, the high-performance ceramic plays an important but inconspicuous role. This is true in medicine because until now over 300,000 zirconium oxide hip joints have been successfully inserted. Now you can also use this material, and you will regard it as an “integral part of you” without giving it a second thought.

Strong, attractive and compatible: you expect the best.

There are not many materials, similar to natural diamond, which combine exceptional beauty and strength. In dentistry, there has been continuous research and development to find materials suitable for dental prosthesis that are aesthetically acceptable and have sufficient strength. Besides, they must be well tolerated by the human body. For many years ceramic materials combined with metals have been used in dental restorations – ceramic gives the desired aesthetics and metal is used for strength.

With the Cercon system, all-ceramic crowns and bridges of up to four units can be made in the incisor and molar regions. In individual cases, depending on the gap of the bridged teeth, bridges of up to six units are possible. Additional dental applications are already in the testing phase and are just awaiting test results.

Sheer high-tech brilliance for the best results.

Until now zirconium oxide could only be processed at great expense because of its exceptional hardness and thus could not be used for the dental prosthesis. As a result of research carried out by the renowned Zurich Federal Institute of Technology it is now possible to use this material in dental technology.

A wax form or model of your “new teeth” is created in the dental laboratory , to the precise specifications provided by your dentist. This wax form serves as the pattern from which a computer-aided milling unit creates your crown or bridge from a solid zirconium oxide blank. A ceramic veneer in your individual tooth colors is then applied to the milled zirconium oxide unit to achieve the desired characteristics and a natural looking appearance.

Kind to body and teeth in every way.

Do you know that the skin on your back is around 15 times more sensitive than the mucous membrane (or tissues) in your mouth? For this reason allergy tests are often performed on an individual’s back. The test results with our neutral ceramic are clear and according to our current knowledge, there should not be any adverse reaction to Cercon smart ceramics even in the most sensitive of people. In the extensive literature available on zirconium oxide, no individual cases of allergic reaction have been reported to date. Possible interactions with any metals contained in existing dental prostheses will also be excluded.

Other important properties of a zirconium oxide restoration are very positive for the wearer. The surfaces of the veneering porcelain ensure reduced plaque adhesion and thus support good oral hygiene. What’s more, your all-ceramic restoration will have an excellent insulating effect and you won’t have to worry about any unpleasant sensations with hot or cold meals and drinks.

Zirconium oxide has already been used in medical applications for nearly 20 years and as a result of long-term observations, the material may also be recommended for a sensitive oral cavity. Set value on true quality.

In addition to a better appearance there are other features that determine the result and longevity of your investment that serve as a particular standard for quality. With Cercon smart ceramics, these quality standards are not just met but re-established. A Cercon dental restoration makes no compromises in aesthetics, compatibility, durability and function.

Natural Colour and Shape.

As the term “all-ceramic” already suggests, Cercon smart ceramics requires no metal framework. This offers a great advantage for your restoration’s aesthetics, because the milled zirconium oxide substructure is white in colour. The milled unit is further modelled using Cercon ceram® S veneering porcelain to blend with the existing adjacent teeth in your mouth in both shape and colour, giving the restoration its very natural appearance.

With the additional advantage of having the maximum stability thanks to its strength in the thin sections, Cercon restorations can be well integrated to follow the natural contours of your mouth. In general a harmonious overall appearance can be achieved that makes your new teeth look absolutely authentic.