BruxZir Solid Zirconia is the latest advancement from Glidewell Laboratories' Research & Development Department. After nearly five years of research and testing comes a full-contour, 100 percent zirconia restoration with no porcelain overlay. This monolithic nature makes BruxZir virtually chip-proof, which translates into fewer remakes for your lab. In addition, the zirconia powder used to make BruxZir is compounded in such a way that its translucency and color is similar to natural posterior dentition. Patients are choosing this tooth-colored option as a more esthetic alternative to metal-occlusal PFMs or full-cast metal restorations.

"As Glidewell Laboratories' fastest-growing product ever with one of the lowest return rates we've seen, BruxZir is proving to be readily accepted by clinicians and patients as a great posterior restorative option," said Keevin Shigenaka, general manager of the lab's All-Ceramic Department.

BruxZir, which is ideal for bruxers or grinders who have chipped or cracked other posterior restorations, is made using CAD/CAM technology. After being designed and milled from BruxZir zirconia blanks, BruxZir restorations are colored and sintered for 7.5 hours at 1,530 degrees Celsius, then glazed to a smooth surface.

"BruxZir represents a complete departure from traditional technology," said Rudy Ramirez, CDT, manager of Glidewell Laboratories' Fixed Prosthodontics Department. "It's already got me thinking: What else can we make a crown out of?"

So why should you offer your dentist customers a monolithic dental restoration like BruxZir? When porcelain is fused to a metal or zirconia substructure, there is always the possibility that the two layers could separate. The best-case scenario is a small chip off the porcelain. The worst-case scenario is that the porcelain completely fractures, exposing the metal or zirconia substructure and requiring replacement. Because BruxZir is made of one homogenous material, the possibility of chipping is virtually eliminated. Fewer chips and cracks mean fewer lab remakes, a pleased doctor and a happy patient.

Laboratories across the country are already seeing the benefits of offering BruxZir to their customers. "Like many labs, we were affected by the economy in 2009, and as a result we had fewer new accounts and our existing customers had lower sales. With the introduction of BruxZir Solid Zirconia in the fourth quarter, we had a slight conversion of full-cast and PFM crowns, but more importantly, we experienced a sharp uptick in new accounts. February 2010 sales were 18 percent above the same period last year, and we attribute much of this momentum to BruxZir restorations. To date, we have had no remakes, no failures, and the feedback has been remarkable," said Mark Jackson, RDT, Vice President / Co-Owner of Precision Ceramics Dental Laboratory.

You can offer this exciting new restorative material, one of the fasting-growing products in Glidewell Laboratories history, at your lab. There are five ways you can offer your dentist clients BruxZir Solid Zirconia:

• Send modelwork: Send your master modelwork with pinned, trimmed dies and a bite registration. Choose between staining and glazing yourself ($89/unit) or receiving a finished BruxZir restoration ($99/unit).
• Acquire a 3Shape D700 Scanner: You'll save money per unit by purchasing your own 3Shape system through Glidewell Direct.
• Send 3Shape design file: Labs that own a 3Shape Dental System (with 2009 DentalDesigner™ software) can send their digital file to Glidewell Laboratories. We mill the restoration; you color, sinter, stain and glaze for $79/unit. Or, choose a finished BruxZir for $89/unit.
• Buy BruxZir Milling Blanks: If you own a milling system that accepts 98 mm diameter blocks, purchase the special BruxZir zirconia blanks. Bisque fired for extra strength before milling, they are available in four thickness options: 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm. The blanks are compatible with Intellitek, Haas, i-core, Zeno, Origin and Digital Dental mills.
• Purchase BruxZir Milling System: This system represents the latest in CAD/CAM technology, complete with an open system for easy, continuous integration of new developments. Lower your per-unit cost with this system, which includes 3Shape D700 Scanner, DentalDesigner software, Delcam DentMill CAM System and Intelitek Benchman MX CNC Machining Center.

Learn more about the advantages of becoming an Authorized BruxZir Lab. When you become an Authorized BruxZir Lab, we'll help you get the word out by listing your lab in a print advertisement that will be seen in a national dental magazine or journal. We'll also list your contact information and a link to your Web site on www.bruxzir.com. Call 888-303-3975 or sign up here to get started.