Category Archives: Restoration Materials

Zirconia, lithium disilicate, pressed and layered ceramics, feldspathic porcelain: flexural strength, translucency, clinical indications and how to choose the right material for each case. Written for dentists and dental technicians, based on the brand-name materials fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab.

In-House Training with Shofu: Ceramage Pink Gingiva and Vintage Prime Pressed Ceramic

Nâng cao thẩm mỹ nướu hồng bằng Shofu Ceramage & Khai thác hệ thống sứ ép Shofu Vintage Prime

On 26 March 2025, Khai Nguyen Dental Lab hosted an in-house workshop with Shofu (SotaD) on two subjects: building pink gingiva with Ceramage composite, and getting the most out of the Shofu Vintage Prime pressed ceramic system. The session was held for our technicians at the laboratory, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Speaker

Ms Connie Moy qualified as a dental technician in Taiwan. Throughout her career she has focused on practical, high-applicability solutions for modern laboratories — solutions that help a lab meet the clinician’s requirements while reducing repeated adjustments and remakes.

Part 1: pink gingiva with Ceramage composite

The hands-on element covered how to streamline gingival fabrication — shortening working time while holding the esthetic standard — using Ceramage, a composite with 73% ceramic filler. The properties discussed were:

  • Resistance to wear, plaque accumulation and microleakage.
  • A wide shade system that makes natural gingival tones easier to reproduce.
  • A specific fabrication and surface-treatment protocol that improves the durability of the finished work.

This matters most on full-arch implant cases, where artificial gingiva is a large part of the visible result and a large part of the working time.

Part 2: the Shofu Vintage Prime pressed ceramic system

  • A fresh, warm shade register that helps balance esthetics and naturalness.
  • Manufactured in Japan to consistent standards.
  • High flexural strength, reducing chipping.
  • Maximum tooth-structure preservation, with effective resistance to crack propagation.

Why the laboratory invests in this

Working with material manufacturers is how a laboratory keeps its technical skill current. Each of these sessions maps onto a specific case type we produce — here, full-arch implant restorations with gingival reconstruction, and pressed ceramic anterior work. Related reading: dental ceramic materials comparison.

Our thanks to Shofu (SotaD) and to Ms Connie Moy for the session and for their support throughout.

What our technicians took away

In our recap post after the session, the lab noted that the technicians had taken on and applied the techniques covered, from streamlining the Ceramage pink gingiva workflow to getting better results from Vintage Prime Press restorations. The hands-on gingiva practice in particular gave the team useful experience in shortening fabrication time while keeping to the esthetic standard.

How this connects to the cases dentists send us

Artificial gingiva is part of many full-arch implant restorations, and where it is used its shade and contour are as visible as the teeth. For veneers, the lab works with three pressed lithium disilicate systems: IPS e.max Press, GC Initial LiSi Press and Shofu Vintage LD Press. Related pages:

This workshop is one of several in-house sessions listed on our training and professional exchange 2025–2026 page. To send a full-arch or pressed-ceramic case, see the ordering process.

Source: Khai Nguyen Dental Lab Facebook page, March 2025.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Posterior Indirect Restorations: The Morphology Driven Preparation Technique (Part 2)

Inlay sứ đặt trên mẫu, kiểm tra độ khít sát và giải phẫu mặt nhai

Summary: part 1 set out the indications and rationale for posterior indirect adhesive restorations. This part covers the technique: the principles of the Morphology Driven Preparation Technique, the butt-joint thickness threshold, the role of immediate dentin sealing, and what the laboratory needs to see on the model to reproduce the design correctly.

1. Morphology-driven preparation

The preparation technique described by Veneziani (Int J Esthet Dent, 2017) does not begin from a requirement for mechanical retention, as classical cavity designs did. It begins from two features of the tooth itself: the maximum contour line and the cuspal inclination.

The practical consequence is that the finish line is no longer placed by a fixed rule but according to its position relative to the maximum contour line:

  • Above the maximum contour line — a continuous inclined plane in the form of a hollow chamfer or concave bevel on the axial walls. This zone is still in enamel, and the inclined plane cuts the enamel prisms at an angle favourable for bonding.
  • Below the maximum contour line — a butt-joint of approximately 1.2 mm in the proximal box and on the walls. This threshold ensures adequate material thickness rather than creating thin margins prone to fracture.

The occlusal surface is prepared anatomically — cusps and grooves retained — rather than flattened. All transitional angles are rounded, with no undercuts or sharp line angles.

2. Designs to avoid

Three familiar features of classical cavity design no longer suit a restoration retained by adhesive bonding:

  • Shoulders around the cusps — remove a large volume of tissue in an area that could have been preserved.
  • Occlusal grooves — create mechanical retention that is unnecessary once bonding is in place, while introducing stress-concentrating angles.
  • Pins — expose dentine without need.

What all three have in common: they trade tooth structure for mechanical retention, when retention is already provided by the adhesive interface.

3. Immediate dentin sealing

Immediate dentin sealing means applying the adhesive layer to dentine right after preparation, before the impression, rather than at the cementation appointment. The protocol described in the literature involves etching dentine with 37% phosphoric acid for about 15 seconds, rinsing and suctioning so the surface remains visibly moist, applying a universal adhesive for 20 seconds, air-drying and light-curing for 10 seconds.

The reported benefits are improved dentine bond strength and reduced risk of debonding. A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is synthesising its effect on the fracture strength of posterior indirect restorations, and an in vitro study examines its effect across different luting agents.

From the laboratory’s side, what matters is that sealing changes the preparation surface. If it has been performed, say so when sending the case — the technician will calculate cement space differently.

4. Preparation design and marginal adaptation

Preparation design directly affects the marginal adaptation of the finished restoration. An in vitro study comparing three preparation designs for lithium disilicate overlays found significant differences in marginal adaptation between designs — meaning design selection is not only a question of tissue preservation but of accuracy.

This is also why a butt-joint is recommended below the maximum contour line: a thick, square margin can be reproduced far more accurately by both scanning and milling than a thin bevelled one.

5. Clinical advantages reported in the literature

  • Better bond quality — the inclined plane optimises the cut of enamel prisms and increases the available enamel bonding surface.
  • Less dentine exposure — fewer bonding and sensitivity problems.
  • Maximum preservation of hard tissue — the cavity is designed for reinforced composite luting, improving flow and excess removal.
  • Better aesthetic integration — the inclined-plane design allows a smoother shade blend at the tooth–restoration transition.

6. What the laboratory needs to see

  • The boundary between bevelled and butt-joint zones — if the model does not show the transition, the technician has to guess and will produce the wrong margin type.
  • A clear, unchipped butt-joint margin, sufficient to verify 1.2 mm of thickness.
  • Anatomic occlusal morphology retained — a flattened occlusal surface removes the reference for rebuilding cusps and grooves.
  • A note on whether immediate dentin sealing was performed.
  • Opposing model, bite registration and a note on bruxism.

FAQ

Is 1.2 mm a hard number?

It is the threshold cited for the butt-joint in the morphology-driven technique, intended to avoid thin fracture-prone margins. Total restoration thickness also depends on the material — lithium disilicate and zirconia do not share a threshold.

Is immediate dentin sealing mandatory?

Not mandatory, but the bond-strength benefit is consistently reported. If performed, tell the laboratory.

Does this apply to endodontically treated teeth?

Yes, and this is the group that benefits most, because tissue preservation retains structure that is already reduced.

Can intraoral scanning read a butt-joint margin?

Yes, and usually better than a thin bevel, because a square margin gives a crisp boundary. The condition is still that soft tissue is controlled and the margin is not obscured by blood or fluid.

References

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Minimum Veneer Thickness: How Thin Is Enough

Close-up of hand-layered feldspathic veneers, enamel texture and translucency

The question “how thin can a veneer go” is usually asked the wrong way round. There is no single correct figure, because minimum thickness is not a property of the material. It is what falls out of three things together: how far the shade has to move, what colour the preparation is, and how much restorative space actually exists.

The 0.2 mm per shade group rule

The literature offers a working rule: each shade group change needs a minimum of 0.2 mm, and ideally 0.3 mm, of ceramic thickness.

A worked example makes it concrete. Moving from A3 to A0 is three shade group changes, so the minimum is 0.6 mm and the ideal is 0.9 mm. If the preparation allows only 0.3 mm and the plan still calls for three groups, the arithmetic does not close. That is not a limitation of the laboratory. It is an optical limit of the ceramic layer.

The threshold for masking a severely discoloured preparation

For severe discolouration, published work reports that roughly 0.8 mm of multilayer porcelain is required to mask it. That figure is worth remembering, because it sits a long way from the ultra-thin veneer patients expect after seeing advertising.

When the preparation is dark there are three routes: reduce further to create the space, change to a material with better masking, or revise the target shade to something achievable. There is no fourth route.

Why 0.5 mm keeps appearing

Most veneer preparations reduce enamel by about 0.5 mm. The number is not arbitrary: it is enough for a minimum ceramic thickness while avoiding a restoration that ends up over-contoured relative to the original tooth. Reduce less and either the ceramic is too thin, or the veneer builds out beyond the natural outline.

The literature adds a fabrication note: below 0.3 mm is very difficult to produce, and for most materials 0.5 mm is the realistic minimum.

Minimum workable thickness by material

Material Workable thickness Note
Hand-layered feldspathic 0.2–0.3 mm The thinnest, but masks almost nothing
Lithium disilicate (e.max) 0.4–0.5 mm Higher-opacity ingots available for masking
Zirconia 0.5 mm and above Best masking, lower translucency

This table describes what can be fabricated, not what should be prescribed. Being able to make 0.2 mm does not mean 0.2 mm is the right answer.

When 0.2 mm is the right answer

We produced a 0.2 mm ultra-thin feldspathic veneer on tooth 21. What matters there is not the number but why that case allowed it.

It was a diastema closure. The existing tooth shade was already correct, so no shade group had to be crossed and nothing had to be masked. The entire 0.2 mm went into form rather than colour. Once the problem is form alone, the thin limit drops a long way.

Move that same case to a patient with an A4 preparation who wants 1M1, with the same material and the same technician, and 0.2 mm becomes impossible. See masking a dark A4 preparation to 1M1 for the opposite situation.

What to send so the lab can answer precisely

  1. The preparation shade after cutting, photographed with a shade tab, taken before the tooth dehydrates.
  2. Measured restorative space at the thickest and thinnest point, measured rather than estimated.
  3. The target shade agreed with the patient.

With those three figures the lab can say immediately how thin the case can go, or how much further reduction it needs. Without one of them, any answer is a guess.

See feldspathic veneers, feldspathic or e.max, or contact our team.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Full-Cutback on Multi Zirconia: Layering the Facial Surface

Phục hình Multi Zirconia kỹ thuật full-cutback đắp sứ mặt ngoài

A case using the full-cutback technique: a Multi Zirconia blank with the facial surface cut back and ceramic layered onto the reduced area.

What full-cutback is, and how it differs from monolithic

A monolithic zirconia restoration is milled from the blank, then stained and glazed on the surface. It is fast and strong, but the colour effect sits on the surface, so optical depth is limited.

In a full-cutback, the technician reduces the facial aspect of the zirconia framework and layers ceramic over that area. The interior of the tooth stays dense load-bearing zirconia while the visible surface becomes multi-layered ceramic with genuine depth.

Phục hình Multi Zirconia kỹ thuật full-cutback đắp sứ mặt ngoài
Case image by Khai Nguyen Dental Lab.

Why a multilayer blank

A multilayer blank already carries shade and translucency bands through its vertical axis. When the facial surface is cut back, the remaining core still holds the gradient from cervical to incisal, so the layered ceramic does not have to carry the whole colour effect and only adds the finest part of it.

The trade-off to know

Full-cutback delivers higher esthetics than monolithic, but layered facial ceramic is less durable than dense zirconia and needs sufficient space. In heavy load-bearing areas, or for a patient who brings a parafunctional habit, consider cutting back less, or keeping the posterior units monolithic.

What clinicians can use from this

When prescribing, state the priority plainly: maximum esthetics or maximum durability. The lab will then propose a full cutback, a partial cutback limited to the incisal third, or a monolithic result, depending on the restorative space and the patient’s functional habits.

See our zirconia range, or contact our team.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

An I-Bar Under Zirconia for Long-Span and Cantilever Bridges

Khung I-bar kim loại kết hợp mão zirconia cho cầu dài

For restorations with a long span or a cantilever, where the restorative space allows it, an I-bar under zirconia is an option worth considering.

The problem with long spans and cantilevers

Deflection in a bridge span rises with the cube of the span length. Double the span and deflection increases roughly eightfold. With a cantilever, load also arrives off-axis on the abutment, which raises stress at the connector.

Zirconia on its own handles compression very well but is brittle under the tensile bending that occurs at connectors. That is why fractures in long-span bridges usually appear at the connector rather than mid-span.

Khung I-bar kim loại kết hợp mão zirconia cho cầu dài
Case image by Khai Nguyen Dental Lab.

How the I-bar addresses it

Three points make this solution worth considering:

  • Load bearing. The metal acts as a reinforcing framework, reducing the risk of fracture at the connector.
  • Stable esthetics. The zirconia facial surface masks the metal effectively and still meets esthetic requirements in conversation range.
  • An additional treatment option. It gives the clinician a further safe route when planning complex long-span or cantilever cases.

When it applies

The condition is sufficient restorative space. The metal framework needs a minimum thickness, and the zirconia facing needs its own. If the interocclusal space is tight, the trade-off between strength and esthetics has to be settled before production, not at the finishing stage.

What clinicians can use from this

When sending a long-span case, state the span length, whether there is a cantilever, and the measured interocclusal space. Those three figures are enough for the lab to advise whether monolithic zirconia is sufficient or a reinforcing framework is warranted.

See our materials and restorations range, or contact our team.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Full-Arch ZirCAD Prime Restoration with Far East Dental

Phục hình toàn hàm bằng IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime với chuyển sắc Gradient Technology

Khai Nguyen Dental Lab would like to thank Dr Nguyen Ngoc Trung Hau and Far East Dental (Nha khoa Viễn Đông) for choosing the lab as their partner on this full-arch case.

What the case called for

This was a full-arch restoration with a high esthetic demand. The clinician set out a problem that is familiar but never trivial in full-arch work: the restoration had to be bright enough to meet the patient’s expectation, yet still carry a natural gradient from cervical to incisal rather than reading as one flat block of colour.

Material and how the lab handled it

Our team selected IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime discs for the case. The strength of this disc is its Gradient Technology: translucency and shade are built into the blank vertically, shifting from the cervical zone toward the incisal edge inside the material itself rather than depending entirely on an external layer.

On a full arch that matters in practice. The technician positions the blank on the correct axis and in the correct shade band, and the whole arch starts from a consistent gradient instead of the effect having to be rebuilt unit by unit. What remains is controlling form, surface texture and the finish line so the arch reads as one piece.

What this case shows

In full-arch work, how well the clinic and the lab communicate decides most of the outcome. The clinician holds the patient’s expectations and the clinical conditions; the lab holds the limits and strengths of each material. When both sides agree the shade target and the level of translucency early, material selection becomes far simpler than correcting shade at the finishing stage.

If you are weighing up materials for a similar case, see our materials and restorations range, or read how Vietnam dental lab outsourcing works end to end.

More cases with partner clinics: Full-arch e.max veneers and bite raising – Dr Sai Aom Kham · Anterior veneers – Nhan Tam Dental · All-on-X on titanium thimbles – Paris Dental · Single e.max crown – Dr Mai Tran.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case Study: e.max Ceramic Inlays, Onlays and Overlays, Built for Marginal Fit and a Seamless Transition

Ceramic overlay seated on the model at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab, showing the marginal fit against the adjacent teeth

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab on the model and published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 12 January 2026 and on Facebook on 16 June 2026. No patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.

Case summary

Indication Indirect posterior restorations: ceramic inlays, onlays and overlays
Material IPS e.max Press or IPS e.max CAD, chosen by cavity form and esthetic demand
Technical priorities Marginal fit, occlusal anatomy continuous with the remaining tooth, seamless transition zone
Typical in-lab time 2 to 3 working days
Photo sources Instagram, 12 January 2026 and Facebook, 16 June 2026

Photo above: a ceramic overlay seated on the model, with the margin closing against the adjacent teeth.

Why a small case is a hard case

Inlays and onlays are often treated as simple work: one unit, no anterior esthetics. At the bench the opposite is true. The smaller the restoration, the less error it tolerates. A posterior crown that is 50 microns short at the margin can still be compensated by cement, and a subgingival finish line hides much of it. An inlay that is 50 microns short leaves that gap on the occlusal surface, where the patient feels it with the tongue and where plaque collects.

Three requirements the lab has to meet at once:

  • Marginal fit. An inlay preparation has several walls and angles; the restoration must seat along one path without binding, and close everywhere along its perimeter.
  • Anatomy continuous with the remaining tooth. Unlike a crown, an inlay or onlay replaces only part of the tooth, so cusps, grooves and marginal ridges have to run without a break into the remaining natural enamel.
  • A seamless transition zone. This is the criterion Khai Nguyen treats as the most important for this group: the boundary between ceramic and enamel should be invisible in colour, in gloss and in surface form.

e.max Press or e.max CAD

Both are lithium disilicate with comparable flexural strength, and both bond with the same etch-and-silane protocol. They differ in how the shape is produced:

  • e.max Press goes through a wax stage, so the technician builds cusps, grooves and proximal contacts by hand on the model. That helps with complex cavities, thin walls, or when occlusal contacts need fine adjustment. After pressing, the unit can be cut back and layered when the case needs depth of colour.
  • e.max CAD is milled from a block: fast and consistent, suited to clearly defined cavities and to shorter turnaround. In exchange, secondary grooves and proximal contacts are refined after milling.

The lab chooses by cavity form rather than by default. Our ceramic materials comparison lists strength and minimum thickness for each family.

Lab workflow

  1. Assess the preparation before designing. Path of insertion, wall taper and margin quality are read first. If there is an undercut or a wall is too thin, the lab reports back before production instead of compensating with a thicker restoration.
  2. Design to the remaining tooth. Cusps and grooves are built to run into the natural enamel; no default tooth library is used at the junction.
  3. Press or mill, then try on the model to confirm a single path of insertion and a closed margin.
  4. Contacts and occlusion. Proximal contacts are adjusted against the neighbouring teeth, and static and excursive occlusion are checked on the articulator.
  5. Surface finishing. Occlusal texture is created, then the unit is polished mechanically, with thick glaze avoided on contact areas so the opposing tooth is not abraded. See glazing vs polishing.

Feedback from the clinic

In September 2025 Dr Nguyen Thanh Dung noted the naturalness and continuity of the transition zone in the inlay and onlay cases produced by the lab. That is the criterion the lab pursues for this group of restorations, because it is what the patient feels with the tongue every day and where discolouration appears first over time.

Lessons for inlay and onlay cases

  • Prepare a clear path of insertion. An undercut forces the lab to compensate with a thick cement layer, which reduces fit and increases the risk of debonding.
  • State the material you want and why. Choose e.max CAD for speed, e.max Press for complex cavities or when layering is needed.
  • A clear impression and an early shade photo. A clear finish line, a cavity without unnecessary sharp internal angles, and a shade photograph taken before the tooth dehydrates all help the lab considerably. If the cavity is too shallow in a load-bearing area, raise it with the lab before production rather than at try-in.
  • Send the opposing scan and a bite record. Inlays and onlays sit on the occlusal surface, so occlusion decides their lifespan; without the opposing arch the lab can only guess the contacts.
  • Re-polish after chairside adjustment. An adjusted area left unpolished is rough, stains and wears the opposing tooth.

See the inlay, onlay and overlay product page or send a case via WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Case Study: Full Zirconia Restoration for a Bruxing Patient with V-Shaped Cervical Wear

Before and after: full zirconia restoration for an international patient with bruxism and V-shaped wear, squared form and translucent incisal edges

Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription, published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 18 August 2025. The before-and-after photos were sent to the lab by the dentist as feedback. No patient-identifying information is included.

Case summary

Condition Bruxism with V-shaped cervical wear
Indication Full zirconia restoration of the arch
Dentist’s requirements Squared form, translucent incisal edges, natural surface texture
Patient International case
Photo source Instagram @khainguyendentallab, 18 August 2025

Photo above: before treatment (top) and after seating the full zirconia restoration (bottom).

Why zirconia for a bruxing patient

For a patient who grinds, strength comes first. Pressed lithium disilicate has a flexural strength around 400 to 500 MPa, enough for single units in an average patient but risky against repeated parafunctional load. Zirconia, depending on the disc, reaches 800 to 1,300 MPa and tolerates that load far better (see the materials comparison).

The objection to zirconia is that it looks opaque and artificial. The dentist’s requirements here, squared form, translucent incisal edges and natural texture, are exactly what stops zirconia reading as a white block. The lab used a multilayer disc for a built-in gradient, created the surface texture by hand and preserved translucency in the incisal third instead of thickening uniformly.

V-shaped cervical wear and what it means for the design

V-shaped lesions at the cervical margin indicate repeated flexural load, usually alongside bruxism. For the lab this tells two things: the patient generates high forces so a strong material is needed, and the finish line sits close to already damaged tissue, so the margin must be designed carefully to avoid creating a new weak point. The design also has to avoid premature contacts in excursion, since these are the source of the flexural load.

Lab workflow

  1. Occlusal analysis from the bite record and the opposing scan, identifying the main load-bearing areas.
  2. Squared form as requested with defined line angles, while load-bearing ridges are slightly rounded to distribute force.
  3. Multilayer disc selection, strong enough cervically and more translucent at the incisal edge.
  4. Hand-made surface texture after sintering, then thorough mechanical polishing instead of a thick glaze, because polished zirconia abrades opposing teeth less (see glazing vs polishing).
  5. Excursive contacts checked on the articulator and the case photographed before shipping.

Lessons for bruxing patients

  • Tell the lab the patient grinds. It changes disc selection, minimum thickness and the finishing method.
  • Consider a night guard alongside the restoration; the lab can make it from the same scan set (see occlusal splints).
  • Prefer polishing over thick glaze on occlusal surfaces, to reduce wear of the opposing teeth once glaze wears away.

Send a case for a bruxing patient via WhatsApp +84 902 945 585, or read how we handle international cases.

Another multi-unit zirconia case: twelve units of ZirCAD Prime crowns and bridges, A3–A3.5.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

Bleach Shades 0M2, 1M1, 1M2 and BL: Choosing the Shade, Stain Technique and How to Brief the Lab

Kỹ thuật stain trên phục hình sứ: thay đổi tỉ lệ màu để đạt các tông 0M2, 1M1, 1M2

Written for dentists and dental technicians, based on technical posts by the Khai Nguyen Dental Lab team on Facebook and Instagram (August 2026, October 2025). Case photos were taken by the lab; no patient-identifying information is included.

More patients bleach, so bleach shades such as 0M2, 1M1, 1M2 or BL1 to BL4 now appear on prescriptions more often than A1 or A2. The difficulty is that these tones sit very close in value and differ only in subtle chroma; a restoration that comes back “white but dead” or “white but the wrong tone” usually starts with dentist and lab reading the shade code differently. This article explains the bleach shade systems, how technicians tune the tone with stains, and how to send shade information so the lab gets it right first time.

Two bleach shade systems in parallel use

System Codes How to read them
Vita 3D-Master groups 0 and 1 0M1, 0M2, 0M3, 1M1, 1M2 First digit is value (0 is brightest), M is the neutral hue, last digit is chroma (1 low, 2 higher). 1M1 is bright and near neutral; 1M2 has the same value but is warmer; 0M2 is one step brighter than 1M1.
Vita Bleachedguide 3D-Master 0M1 to 5M2 ordered by value An extended version of the above, arranged to compare before and after bleaching.
“BL” guides from some ceramic manufacturers BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4 BL1 is brightest. BL2 sits near 0M2 to 1M1; BL3 near 1M2; BL4 near 2M1. These are approximate conversions, not exact equivalents.

Because the guides are not exact equivalents, write the code from the guide actually used in the mouth and attach a photo with the tab in frame instead of converting by hand.

Stain technique: a small change in ratio changes the tone

At high value the disc or ingot is usually chosen in the most neutral tone, and the technician pulls it to the right chroma with stains before glazing. The Khai Nguyen team’s experience: a slight change in the ratio between the basic stain colours is enough to move from 0M2 to 1M1 or 1M2. Some working rules:

  • Go from little to more. Stains on bright shades are easy to overdo; fire a thin layer, compare with the tab under neutral light, then add.
  • Warm at the cervical, neutral on the body, slightly blue-grey at the edge. 1M2 differs from 1M1 mainly in the amount of warm colour at the cervical and body; 0M2 differs from 1M1 in value, which stains cannot fix, so the blank must be re-selected.
  • Effects are still needed. Real bleached teeth still show an incisal halo, enamel striations and white opacities. Without them a bright arch looks like plastic. See the e.max crown and feldspathic veneers in OM1 case.
  • Stains do not replace layering. When depth is required the lab cuts back and layers; stains only fine-tune the tone at the end.

Photo above: A Khai Nguyen technician tuning the tone of a ceramic restoration with stains: small changes in colour ratio separate 0M2, 1M1 and 1M2.

Example: a BL2 case with natural translucency

For a veneer case in BL2 the dentist sent a photo of the BL2 tab next to the bleached teeth, a smiling facial photo and the note “white, but translucent at the edge”. The lab chose a medium-translucency pressed ingot in a bright tone, layered translucent porcelain in the incisal third, built a thin halo and used stains only to balance chroma between the units. The feedback photo after seating shows the BL2 value with a translucent incisal edge, not a solid white block.

How to send bleach shade information to the lab

  1. Take the shade photo at least two weeks after bleaching ends, because the colour still shifts in that period. Tab in the same plane as the teeth, slightly wet, in daylight or under a 5500 K lamp, never under the operating light.
  2. Photograph two adjacent tabs (for example 0M2 and 1M1, or BL2 and BL3) so the lab sees whether the patient sits between them or leans one way.
  3. Say which tooth is the reference: canines are usually darker than incisors; for an incisor restoration, match the contralateral incisor.
  4. State the desired translucency in words (“clearly translucent edge”, “almost none”) or with a reference photo.
  5. If the patient will bleach again, choose a target one step lower so the restoration is not darker than the natural teeth a few months later.

Frequently asked questions

Should every bleached patient get 0M1?

No. 0M1 is very bright and looks artificial if the remaining teeth are not equally bright. Match the natural teeth after bleaching, usually 1M1 or BL2, and go to 0M1 or 0M2 only when the whole smile segment is being restored.

Do bright restorations need layering, or is staining enough?

Posterior crowns can be stained monolithic. Anterior crowns and veneers should be layered, or at least cut back at the incisal edge, because bright tones expose any lack of depth.

Are phone photos good enough?

Yes, if a shade tab is in frame, the operating light is off and no filters are used; the tab is the reference that lets the lab correct the camera’s colour cast.

See our comparison of pressed ceramic systems, or send a case via WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.

3Y-TZP vs 5Y-PSZ Zirconia: Strength, Translucency and Which Disc for Which Case

3M Lava Zirconia

TL;DR: 3Y-TZP zirconia (about 3 mol% yttria) reaches 1,200–1,300 MPa but is opaque, so it is used for long-span bridges, molars and implant prostheses. 5Y-PSZ (about 5 mol% yttria) is far more translucent but drops to around 800 MPa, so it is used for monolithic crowns in the esthetic zone and short bridges. Multilayer discs with 3Y in the dentin zone and 5Y at the incisal edge are today’s most common choice for monolithic full-arch work. This article explains the structural difference, indications, minimum thickness and how to choose between the discs used at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab.

Yttria decides both strength and translucency

Dental zirconia is ZrO2 stabilised with yttria (Y2O3). At 3 mol% the material is mostly tetragonal and benefits from transformation toughening: when a crack starts, tetragonal grains around it transform to the monoclinic phase, expand, and squeeze the crack shut. That is why 3Y-TZP reaches 1,200–1,300 MPa. Raising yttria to 5 mol% adds cubic phase, which is optically isotropic and scatters less light, hence the higher translucency, but the cubic phase has no transformation toughening, so strength falls to about 800 MPa and fracture toughness is lower. 4Y sits between the two.

Comparison table

Criterion 3Y-TZP 5Y-PSZ Multilayer (3Y dentin / 5Y incisal)
Discs at Khai Nguyen DD Bio Zirconia, Cercon ht 3M Lava Esthetic IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime
Flexural strength (datasheet) 1,150–1,300 MPa 800 MPa 1,200 MPa (dentin zone)
Translucency Low to medium High, close to LT glass ceramic Gradient from opaque cervical to translucent incisal
Minimum thickness (general guidance) 0.5 mm posterior walls; 0.6–0.8 mm anterior 0.8–1.0 mm 0.6–0.8 mm
Bridge connectors Smallest (per datasheet, often 9 mm² posterior) Larger; manufacturers limit span Connector should sit in the 3Y layer
Indications Long-span bridges, molars, full-arch implant prostheses, layered frameworks, bruxers Monolithic anterior and premolar crowns, 3-unit anterior bridges, zirconia veneers Monolithic full-arch crowns, 3–4 unit bridges, implant restorations in the esthetic zone
Avoid for Monolithic incisor crowns needing high translucency (unless layered) Molar bridges, thin walls, severe bruxism Very long spans where connectors fall in the 5Y layer
In-lab time 2–4 working days for stained and glazed monolithic crowns

Four clinical consequences

1. Do not borrow 3Y strength for a 5Y disc

Many dentists prepare 0.5 mm out of habit with conventional zirconia and then ask for a crown “as translucent as e.max”. With 5Y, a 0.5 mm wall is below the manufacturer’s safe minimum. If translucency is needed, prepare 0.8–1.0 mm or choose a multilayer disc.

2. Bridges: connectors must sit in the 3Y layer

With multilayer discs the technician nests the bridge so the connectors fall in the 3Y dentin layer. Long posterior bridges should be full 3Y, stained, or layered in the esthetic zone.

3. Antagonist wear depends on polishing, not on yttria

Both 3Y and 5Y are kind to opposing enamel when the occlusal surface is mirror-polished. Chairside occlusal adjustment without re-polishing is the main cause of opposing wear.

4. Low-temperature degradation mainly concerns 3Y

The tetragonal phase of 3Y can slowly transform to monoclinic in a moist environment over years; modern discs add a small amount of alumina to limit this. 5Y, with more cubic phase, is less sensitive. Clinically this is not a reason to avoid 3Y posteriorly.

Quick picker

  • Long spans, molars, All-on-X, bruxers: 3Y (DD Bio).
  • Monolithic anterior crowns needing maximum translucency on non-discoloured abutments: 5Y (3M Lava Esthetic).
  • Full-arch monolithic, 3–4 unit bridges, no trade-offs: multilayer (e.max ZirCAD Prime).
  • Heavily discoloured abutments or metal posts: 3Y or multilayer with an opaque cervical layer; consider layering anteriorly.

See also the comparison of zirconia with lithium disilicate and feldspathic, our workshop on indicating zirconia in digital dentistry, and the case-by-case zirconia selection service.

Frequently asked questions

Is 4Y the best of both?

4Y-PSZ (about 900–1,000 MPa) is a reasonable compromise for single crowns and short bridges, but multilayer 3Y/5Y discs solve the same problem while keeping 3Y in the load-bearing zone, so our lab prefers multilayer.

Can zirconia be bonded like e.max?

Zirconia cannot be etched with HF. The recommended protocol is low-pressure alumina air abrasion (50 μm), an MDP-containing primer, then resin cement. For retentive preparations, resin-modified glass ionomer is acceptable.

Can zirconia be used for veneers?

Yes, with 5Y at 0.5 mm or more when masking is needed, but ultra-thin veneers below 0.4 mm should still be lithium disilicate or feldspathic.

If you are weighing up an overseas partner in the first place, start with our guide to Vietnam dental lab outsourcing. Send a case for disc advice through the ordering process or WhatsApp +84 902 945 585.

Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.


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