Zirconium - clinical experiences

(Full text is available at http://www.manu.edu.mk/prilozi). The tendency of new technologies is to use more and more biological and biologically inert materials for implant and reconstruction of organs in the human body. Zirconium dioxide is a material that fullfils most of the necessary conditions, so it can be part of this group. It is biologically inert, a feature that makes it useable in orthopaedics - artificial hips; in dentistry - porcelain crowns, and so on. We have used Y-ZrO(2) for more than three years. Our experience with this material confirms these assumptions, and Y-ZrO(2) takes its place in everyday dental reconstructive practice. We manufacture the all-ceramic constructions on plaster models made with an outpouring of imprint taken from teeth that were previously prepared using knife-edge preparation. The dilemma whether to use shoulder preparation or knife-edge preparation no longer exists. With the latter mode of preparation we save more than 20% solid tooth substance. Key words: Zirconium dioxide, CAD/CAM, sintering, knife-edge preparation.