What Shofu Vintage LD is
Vintage LD is Shofu’s (Japan) lithium disilicate all-ceramic system. Rather than selling press ingots on their own, Shofu packages three components with matched thermal expansion: Vintage LD Press ingots, Vintage LD layering porcelain (17 standard shades based on the Vita Classical guide plus effect shades), and Vintage Art Universal stains (27 shades, mixed with glaze powder).
The same pressed framework can therefore be finished by staining, partial cut-back or full layering without mixing materials from different manufacturers.
According to Shofu, the ingots have an interlocking network of needle-shaped crystals dispersed evenly in the glass matrix, giving high mechanical strength and good crack resistance. According to Shofu’s Instructions for Use, the MT ingot has a flexural strength of 377 MPa (ISO 6872).
Four translucency levels and when to use them
Shofu’s ingot chart ties each translucency level to a specific indication, which is also how we read a prescription:
- T (high translucency, 3 shades): smaller restorations such as inlays, onlays and veneers, finished by staining.
- MT (medium translucency, 19 shades including all Vita Classical and bleach shades): the majority of cases, finished by staining, cut-back or full layering.
- LO (low opacity, 5 shades): slightly discoloured preparations or custom abutments, then full or cut-back layering.
- MO (medium opacity, 3 shades): frameworks over severely discoloured preparations, then layered.
The shades listed on this page (W1–W3 and the 16 shades A1 to D4) belong to the MT range. If the preparation is dark, please note the stump shade on the prescription so the lab can move to an LO or MO ingot instead of trying to mask it with stain.
Three finishing techniques
- Monolithic staining: press to full contour, then characterise with Vintage Art Universal. The fastest and strongest option, suited to posterior teeth, inlays/onlays, and veneers where a few layers of stain achieve the esthetics.
- Cut-back (partial build-up): press to full contour, cut back only the labial incisal area, then layer opalescent Vintage LD porcelain. Shofu recommends it when space is limited but the incisal edge still needs depth.
- Full layering: press a framework, then build up to final contour with Vintage LD body and enamel porcelain, for anterior cases with individual esthetic demands.
In our lab, a stained and glazed monolithic crown takes 2.5 working days for 1–3 units and up to 4 days for more than 12 units; cut-back or fully layered cases take 3–5 working days because the layering is done by hand. Shipping comes on top; see turnaround and shipping.
Indications
The Vintage LD brochure lists: inlays, onlays and overlays; laminate veneers; anterior and posterior full crowns; 3-unit bridges; and implant-supported restorations. For bridges, the brochure says “anterior and premolar region” on its indications page but “3-unit anterior bridges” on its ingot page; the Instructions for Use specify 3-unit anterior bridges, a maximum pontic width of 11 mm, a minimum connector of 16 mm², and no use in patients with bruxism or occlusal abnormalities.
We make Vintage LD Press bridges according to the Instructions for Use, i.e. anterior only. Molar bridges, long-span bridges and patients with heavy bruxism who do not wear a night guard should move to zirconia; the thresholds are in our dental ceramic materials comparison.
When we choose Vintage LD
We usually choose Vintage LD for anterior esthetic cases finished by monolithic staining, and for layered cases where we want the framework, porcelain and stains to come from one system.
If you already work in the IPS e.max or GC shade system, we still recommend staying with it. The detailed comparison of all three lines is in IPS e.max Press vs GC LiSi Press vs Shofu Vintage LD.
To discuss a specific case, contact our team or start through the ordering process.
Technical information is taken from Shofu Dental Asia-Pacific’s Vintage LD brochure (downloadable in the documents section below). Written for dentists and technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab manufactures to clinical prescription only and does not sell directly to patients.
