What IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime is
IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime is a multi-layer CAD/CAM zirconia disc (Ø 98.5 mm) made by Ivoclar Vivadent AG in Schaan, Liechtenstein, and part of the IPS e.max system. The family has two discs that complement each other:
- IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime: the all-round “One-Disc Solution” for crowns and bridges of up to 14 units, on natural teeth and on implants, with every finishing technique including layering.
- IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime Esthetic: a specialist disc for monolithic crowns and 3-unit bridges. Ivoclar does not approve it for the layering technique.
Both discs come in 20 shades (BL1–BL4 and A1–D4), and according to Ivoclar simple polishing or glazing gives a close match to the A–D shade guide.
Gradient Technology: three zones, no layers
Gradient Technology (GT) blends two zirconium oxide raw materials with different strengths and optical properties. A dedicated filling process means there are no layers inside the disc; shade and translucency progress seamlessly from dentin to enamel. The discs are compacted by cold isostatic pressing for uniform shrinkage during sintering and an accurate fit. Through the disc there are three zones:
- Incisal zone: 5Y-TZP, the most translucent, 3 mm thick regardless of disc thickness.
- Transition zone: 4 mm thick, translucency rising towards the incisal edge and strength rising towards the cervical area.
- Dentin zone: 3Y-TZP in ZirCAD Prime, 4Y-TZP in Prime Esthetic; 7–18 mm depending on disc thickness.
In practice, nesting matters: we place cervical margins and bridge connectors in the dentin zone and incisal edges in the 5Y-TZP zone. For background on the zirconia generations, see 3Y-TZP vs 5Y-PSZ zirconia.
Prime or Prime Esthetic?
| ZirCAD Prime | ZirCAD Prime Esthetic |
|---|
| Indications | Crowns and copings; 3-unit bridges; 4-unit and multi-unit bridges (up to 14 units, max. 2 pontics); on natural teeth and implants | Crowns; 3-unit bridges (max. 1 pontic) |
| Techniques | Staining and glazing, brush infiltration, cut-back, layering | Polishing, staining and glazing, cut-back; no layering |
| Disc thickness | 14, 16, 20, 25 mm | 14, 16, 20 mm |
Choose ZirCAD Prime for bridges of four units or more, implant-supported work and anything that will be layered. Prime Esthetic suits monolithic single crowns and short anterior bridges where a fast polish-or-glaze finish is the goal.
Strength and how it was measured
Ivoclar quotes strength per zone, as typical mean values of biaxial flexural strength from its own R&D department in Schaan:
- Incisal zone (both discs): 650 MPa.
- Dentin zone, ZirCAD Prime: 1200 MPa.
- Dentin zone, Prime Esthetic: 850 MPa.
- Fracture toughness, dentin (Vickers method): above 5.0 MPa·m½ for Prime, 3.6 MPa·m½ for Prime Esthetic.
So 1200 MPa describes the dentin zone, where bridges carry the highest loads, not the whole restoration.
Wall thickness, design and cementation
- Minimum monolithic crown wall thickness (both discs): 0.8 mm anterior, 1.0 mm posterior. Please avoid adjusting below this at try-in.
- Bridges: connector dimensions follow Ivoclar’s instructions for use for each bridge type, with connectors nested in the high-strength dentin zone.
- Cementation: Ivoclar pairs the system with ZirCAD Cement; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the full procedure.
Ordering ZirCAD Prime from Khai Nguyen
We accept intraoral scans or impressions, design in CAD, mill the ZirCAD Prime disc and finish by staining, glazing or layering as prescribed. Zirconia crowns and bridges take 2–4 working days in the lab; zirconia on implants takes 3–4.5 working days depending on the number of units. For overseas clinics, DHL Express delivery adds 2–4 days. Please state the disc (Prime or Prime Esthetic), shade, finishing technique (monolithic, cut-back or layered), stump shade if the preparation is discoloured, and shade photos if available.
Case examples: twelve units of ZirCAD Prime crowns and bridges in A3–A3.5, a full-arch vertical dimension rehabilitation with 20 ZirCAD Prime anterior crowns and a cut-back and layered 3-unit ZirCAD Prime bridge, 11–13. Related Ivoclar materials: IPS e.max CAD and IPS e.max Press.
To discuss a case, please contact Khai Nguyen or send it through our ordering process.
Technical values come from the Ivoclar IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime brochure (704587/EN/2024-06-28) and the IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime product page on ivoclar.com. This page is written for dentists and dental technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab fabricates restorations only on professional prescription and does not sell directly to patients.
