Prismatik ThinPress™ Ceramic Technique Manual

Reference GuideDental Technology

Written support material for video training programs

Copyright © 2006, Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc. Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc. is not responsible for any damages or other liabilities (includingattorney fees) resulting, or claimed to result in whole or in part, from actual or alleged problems arising out of the use of this informa-tion. The techniques, procedures and theories presented herein are provided in good faith and believed to be correct as of the date here-of. Any dental professional viewing this presentation must make his or her own decisions about the use of the materials and techniquesfor specific situations.

No representations as to the completeness or accuracy of this information is given, and no representations or warranties, either expressedor implied, of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or of any other nature are made hereunder with respect to the informationor the product to which information refers.

Chapter 1 – Understanding the Prismatik ThinPress Ceramic System

ThinPress Pre-Blended Ingots ........................................................................... 1Correction PowdersOpal Incisal Layering Powders

Stain and Glaze Powders............................................................................. 2Universal Stain and Glaze LiquidUniversal Build-Up and Opaque Liquid

Prismatik ThinPress Ceramic Kits................................................................. 3

ThinPress Pressing Schedule............................................................................. 4ThinPress Firing Chart

ThinPress Shade Indicator................................................................................. 5

Chapter 2 – ThinPress Techniques

ThinPress Veneers.............................................................................................. 7

Model Preparation Technique ........................................................................... 9

Block-Out Technique ....................................................................................... 10Wax-Up Technique

Spruing Technique ........................................................................................... 13

Investing Technique......................................................................................... 14

Burnout and Pressing Technique.............................................................. 15

Divesting Technique .................................................................................. 16

Finishing Technique......................................................................................... 17

Staining and Glazing Technique...................................................................... 19

Correction Powders.......................................................................................... 22Layering Powders

Identifying Ideal ThinPress Cases ................................................................... 24

Handling No-Prep Veneers .............................................................................. 29

Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................................... 30

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1

Chapter 1 – Understanding the Prismatik ThinPressCeramic System

ThinPress Pre-Blended Ingots

Correction Powders

ThinPress ceramic ingots were designed accord-ing to specific opacity/translucency ratios toprovide natural-looking no-prep veneer results.ThinPress comes in 10 unique shades that corre-spond to the Vita Lumin most popular bleachshade guides. Over 80% of the prescribedshades for veneers are covered. The ingotsweigh 2 grams, are 11mm in diameter and can

be pressed as thin as 0.3mm. ThinPress ceramic has a flexural strength of 167 MPa(±16MPa). Due to the fine grain leucite crystals, ThinPress exhibits less wear onthe opposing dentition.

ThinPress correction powders are available in 7shades, and are specially formulated to containthe same level of chroma as the pre-blendedingots. These powders are utilized when repair-ing voids and margins, adding contacts, or modi-fying the veneer’s contour.

ThinPress layering powders were specially for-mulated to provide incisal translucency and/orhalo characterization to the veneers. The layer-ing powders contain opalescent particles thatrefract, reflect and scatter light, resulting in arestoration that blends with natural dentition.These powders come in Blue, Clear, andBlue/White.

Opal Incisal Layering Powders

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Universal Stainand Glaze Liquid

Prismatik universal stain and glaze liquidis available in a 60ml bottle.

This liquid is available for purchase in 60ml,8oz. or 16oz. bottles.

Universal Build-Upand Opaque Liquids

Prismatik stain powders are provided in A, B, C,D, Blue, White, Crème, Violet, Pink, DarkBrown and Yellow/Orange hues. The fine parti-cle size of the stain powders mix to a smoothconsistency, ensuring easy application withoutstreaking. The Prismatik glaze powder is a uni-versal glaze, allowing coefficient compatibilitywith all components of the Prismatik CeramicSystem.

Stain and Glaze Powders

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Prismatik ThinPress Ceramic Kits

Starter Kit Trial Kit

Stain Kit

8 - Tubes of 5 x 2g each of pre-blendedIngots (TP1 - TP8)

5 - 10g bottles of Correction Powder,Body (CP1 - CP5)

3 - 10g bottles of Layering Powder,Opal Incisal (Blue, Clear,Blue/White)

7 - 4g Stain Powder (A, B, C,D, Blue, White, Pink)

1 - 4g Glaze Powder1 - 60ml Universal Stain & Glaze Liquid1 - 60ml Build-up Liquid

3 - Tubes of 5 x 2g each of pre-blendedIngots (TP1, TP3, TP5)

1 - 10g bottles of Layering Powder,Opal Incisal (Blue/White)

2 - 10g bottles of Correction Powder,Body (CP1, CP2)

4 - 4g Stain Powder (A, B,Blue, White)

1 - 4g Glaze Powder1 - 60ml Universal Stain & Glaze Liquid1 - 60ml Build-up Liquid

11 - 4g Stain Powders (Blue, White,Créme, Violet, Pink, Dark Brown,Yellow/Orange, Stain A, Stain B,Stain C, Stain D)

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Pressing Schedule Whip MixProPress 100

Entry Temp. 700°C1292°F

Heat Rate 60°C/min108°F/min

Final Temp 985°C1805°F

Hold Time 15 mins

Press Time 20 mins

Cool Time 0

Pressure 4 bars

Pressing Schedule IvoclarEP600 / EP500

Initial Temp. (B) 700°C1292°F

Heat Rate (t ) 60°C/min108°F/min

Hold Time (H) 20 mins

Stop Speed (E) 100 µm/min

Final Temp. (T) 985°C1805°F

Pressure 5 bars

Firing Schedule GlazeLayering &CorrectionPowders

Low Temp. 403°C757°F

403°C757°F

Pre-Dry Time 4 mins 4 mins

Heat Rate 55°C/min100°F/min

55°C/min100°F/min

Vac Level N/A Full

Vac Start 403°C757°F

403°C757°F

Vac Release 790°C1454°F

790°C1454°F

High Temp. 790°C1454°F

790°C1454°F

Hold Time 30 sec. 45 sec.

Cool Time 0 1 min

Pressing Schedule

Firing ChartPlease note that thepressing and firingparameters are rec-ommended startingvalues and may needto be adjusted toaccount for variationsfrom furnace to fur-nace.

If adjustments to tem-perature are neces-sary, do not exceed1000°C.

The pressing parame-ters are designed foruse with 200g rings.

*

*

*

5

Shade IndicatorPrismatik ThinPress Ingots

CP1 CP2 CP3 CP4 CP5 CP6 CP7

Bleach A1, B1,A2, B2

A3,A3.5, A4 C1, C2 D2, D3 B3, B4 C3, C4,

D4

Thickness

CorrespondingShades

CorrectionBody Shades

CorrespondingShades

Correction Powders

* Thin used for pressings as thin as 0.3mm - 0.5mm, no prep or minimal prep.(Note - TP1, TP3, TP5, are used to maximize opacity and block out darkunderlying tooth shades)

* Thick used for pressings thicker than 0.6mm, ideal veneer prep or fullcrown prep.(Note - TP2, TP4, TP6, TP7, TP8, TP9, TP10 contain more translucency)

ThinPress Shades

CorrespondingShades

Thickness

TP1 TP2 TP3 TP4 TP5

0.3 - 0.5 Thick or Thin 0.3 - 0.5 Thick or Thin 0.3 - 0.5

Bleachex: 010, OM1,OM2, OM3,

NW0, NW0.5,B0, i1-i8

Bleachex: A0, 020,030, NW0,NW0.5, BO,

OM2, OM3, XL

A1, A2 A3, A3.5, A4 B1, B2

TP6 TP7 TP8 TP9 TP10

Thick or Thin Thick or Thin Thick or Thin Thick or Thin Thick or Thin

C1, C2, 040 D2, D3 A1, A2, B1, B2 B3, B4 C3, C4, D4

ThinPress Shades

ThinPress Veneers

Cosmetic dental restorations are rapidly becoming the most frequently prescribedrestoration in laboratories today. Porcelain laminate veneers are one type of cos-metic restoration that has enjoyed great success in the past. This is due to the factthat it requires minimal reduction by the dentist and it is highly esthetic whenplaced in the mouth.

Chapter 2 – ThinPress Techniques

No-Prep

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ThinPress veneers are the next plateau in providing the dentist and patient with arestoration that is even more esthetic while requiring minimal to no tooth prepara-tion. This manual will provide you with the knowledge necessary to fabricateThinPress Veneers.

No-Prep ThinPress Veneers

Prep

Minimal Prep

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Examine the model closely for all undercuts orvoids. Lightly outline the undercut areas to beblocked out with a soft red lead pencil.

Pour the master impression with an improveddie stone material, trim the base, pour theopposing and articulate the models as youwould normally.

Model Preparation Technique

Carefully remove bulk stone material fromaround the margins with a #8 round bur or acarbide bur.

Deep interproximal areas require removal of theremaining bulk with a bard parker and a sharp#15 blade.

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Eliminate all undercuts by applying block-outwax to any areas that require it.

Mark the margins with a soft red lead pencil andapply die hardener to the teeth. The die harden-er will seal the blockout wax and the markedmargins. Extend the hardener approximately1mm to 2mm beyond the margins.

An important step in the fabrication of ThinPress Veneers is complete block-out ofall undercut areas. Even the smallest undercut could prevent the wax-up from sep-arating cleanly from the model.

Block-Out Technique

Die spacer can be utilized in areas where mini-mal or no preparation presents sharp lineangles. Incisal edges and mesial/distal lineangles are common areas.

Wax-up Technique

Apply a thin layer of die lube.

Begin hand-waxing the ThinPress veneers to fullcontour.

Gingival, mesial and distal areas may require atleast four to five tenths of a millimeter or thewaxed veneer will break upon removal from themodel.

Contour the interproximal and incisal edge ofthe veneer wax-up into desired arch alignment.

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Cut in the interproximal area to separate eachveneer for easier removal and to create a hair-line distance between each contact. This space isneeded to compensate for the pressed ceramicexpansion.

Carefully remove the veneer from the mastermodel to ensure that it will release easily duringthe spruing procedures.

If a waxed veneer does not release easily,remove then reapply an additional coat of dielube to the area and rewax it.

Remove the veneer in a facial direction so youdo not distort the wax-up or experience openmargins and reseat completely.

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Add a bead of wax down the facial aspect ofany veneer that presents a gingival thicknessbelow 0.5mm. This decreases the chances of anincomplete pressing.

When attaching sprues for investing, alwayskeep the sprue length at 8mm.

Spruing Technique

Ensure that the ThinPress wax-up is no thinnerthan three tenths of a millimeter on labial areasthat require minimum thickness.

Melt a small amount of sticky wax and apply itto the end of a #10 gauge sprue. Attach thesprue to the incisal third of the wax-up. Avoidspruing to the thinnest area.

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For larger pressings use a #8 gauge sprue.

The facial of the waxed veneers should angletoward the center of the ring with the marginsdirected toward the outer walls.

Prior to investing, wax the shade on the sprueformer to ensure that the correct shade will bepressed.

Investing Technique

Follow the manufacturers suggested instructionsfor investing procedures. Allow investment to setcompletely.

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Place the investment ring into a burnout ovenand set the burnout oven time and temperaturesaccording to the investment manufacturer’sinstructions.

Warning: Do not include the ingots and theplunger in the burnout oven.

Burnout and PressingTechnique

Bring the temperature up to the manufacturer'sinstructions and hold for 45 minutes for onering. For additional rings, add 10 minutes holdtime for each ring.

Remove the investment ring from the burnoutoven, and quickly place the required number ofThinPress ingots into the sprue hole (1 ingot per3 no-prep veneers or 1 ingot per 2 preppedveneers), then place the plunger into the spruehole.

Quickly place the investment ring in the press-ing furnace and start the pressing cycle.

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Warning: After divestment, keep the veneer wetby constantly dipping it in water. Failure to dothis will create heat-generated fractures.

Allow the pressed investment ring to cool untilit is completely cool to the touch.

Sandblast the investment with 25 micron glassbeads to eliminate all investment from theveneers.

Divesting Technique

Carefully remove the top 1/3 of the invest-ment ring using a cutting disc.

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Dip the veneer in water and reduce the sprueending with a 145 HP Meisinger gray stone andbring into anatomical contour with the surfaceof the pressed veneer.

Dip the ThinPress veneers into water andremove each veneer from the sprue button witha medium grit diamond disc.

Finishing Technique

Check the inside of the veneer with magnifyingloops to determine whether there are minutebubbles that might prevent the veneer fromcompletely seating.

Place the veneers one by one on each respectivedie to check for missing margins, tight or loosecontacts or poor fit.

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To achieve ideal surface anatomy such as accen-tuating developmental grooves, use an SHPDonut 035 Bur.

If contacts are missing, they may be added usingcorrection powders during glaze or correctivebake.

If the contacts are tight, use a porcelain wheelsuch as a Brasseler DiaLite Wheel, which mini-mizes heat generation. Dip veneer in water andlightly reduce the contact area until the contactseats in place.

Once the veneer has been firmly seated, checkthe contact areas for tight or missing contacts.

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Achieve final contour and smooth all areas thatwere adjusted with a fine diamond #707.

Carefully sandblast all surfaces with 50micron aluminum oxide at a pressure below60psi to remove surface contaminants andprepare surface for glazing.

Use the given stump or tooth shade to make astump stick for shading. Composite resins are agreat option for fabricating stump sticks.

Mix the stain and glaze powders with the uni-versal stain & glaze liquid.

Staining and GlazingTechnique

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Examine the shade alongside the requestedshade tab to determine if staining is indicated.

If a shade discrepancy exists, use Prismatik stain powders to duplicate the shade tab.

Fire the veneers in compliance with the temper-atures and times (see page 4) provided.

Allow the veneers to dry for at least 4 minutes.

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Visually inspect that all aspects are correct. Ifany corrections were done, double check tomake sure that they were done in a satisfactorymanner.

The ThinPress Veneers are now ready to be de-livered to the dentist.

Etch the veneers with a ceramic etching gel fol-lowing manufacturer’s instructions. Make surethe etchant covers the entire internal aspect ofthe veneers.

The veneers are ready to be etched. Warning:Always wear a face mask and rubber gloveswhen using acid in any form. Etching materialcontains an acid.

Wax veneer to full contour and press.

In cases that present adequate space, or in situa-tions that require incisal translucency and/orhalo characterization, the Prismatik ThinPresssystem allows the layering technique to be uti-lized.

Layering Powders

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Situations such as open contacts, areas chippedduring divesting or finishing, and areas that areunder-contoured can be repaired using theThinPress Correction Powders.

Correction Powders

These correction powders are formulated toblend in with each shade of ThinPress ingots(see page 5).

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After seating, use a Brasseler DiaLite Wheel tocut-back the incisal of the veneer.

Create the desired cut-back and sandblastthe surface using 50 micron aluminum oxideat 50psi.

Mix the desired ThinPress layering powder withbuild-up liquid and layer the incisal contour.Bake using proper firing parameters(see page 4).

Finish and prepare for stain and glaze. Noticethe incisal characteristics on the final restoration.

Bleaching the teeth before treatment is recom-mended, or the dentist can use opaque bondingcements during seating to block out dark colors.The lighter the desired shade, the more opaquethe veneers must be to hide the underlyingtooth color.

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We should always ask the dentist for the exist-ing tooth shade (stump or preparation shades)in order to provide the patient with the desiredfinal shade.

Many patients would like to have the perfectgolden proportions with bleach shades for a“Hollywood smile”.

Due to ThinPress' ability to be pressed at0.3mm, it can be difficult to mask out very darksubstructures. If the desired shade is more thanthree shades lighter, preparation of the toothwill be needed to prevent show-through.

As technicians, we need better communication with our dentist clients in order toachieve esthetically and functionally pleasing restorations for patients.

Identifying Ideal ThinPress Cases

It is recommended to prepare bulky areas thathave undercuts or to disc down mesial and dis-tal line angles to provide a more ideal archalignment.

It is always a good idea to know if a patient ismale or female in order to achieve better esthet-ics. There's no way to tell, at a glance, whichteeth belong to a male and which ones belongto a female.

However, in general, the features of a woman'steeth are more rounded and delicate than thoseof a man. When a dentist requests a “feminine”look, make sure there is mesial inclination andthat the teeth are more narrow with roundedincisals.

When a “masculine” look is requested, make theteeth more broad with square incisal edges hav-ing slight mesial inclination.

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In more severe cases, more preparationis required.

Areas such as Class 5 lesions with receding gumlines would ideally be corrected with compositebefore taking the impressions.

Slight tooth rotation can be corrected withThinPress veneers, but occasionally a very lightpreparation to the tooth surface may be neededto bring the teeth into alignment.

Teeth that are broken should be built up withcomposite chairside by the dentist to correct thedefect.

Following the tooth form often creates a reversetaper that prevents insertion.

Make sure there is adequate centric, protrusiveand lateral excursive clearance when designingyour case.

Many times minimal preparation creates marginsthat wrap into the interproximals, causingundercuts.

Small black triangles can be corrected withThinPress veneers.

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Diastema closures are possible with Thin-Press veneers.

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Embrasures that are too big cannot be corrected.

Dentists would need to close the black triangleswith composite.

It would be necessary to overextend the marginif the embrasure is too deep.

No-prep veneers must be handled differently than traditional, thicker veneers. Anyfinger pressure applied to the veneers must be light and gentle. Occlusal adjust-ments should not be made on the veneers prior to bonding.

If the diastema is too severe, or creates under-cuts, the dentist may need to use composite toclose areas of undercuts, such as gingival embra-sures and contours that prevent path of inser-tion.

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Handling No-Prep Veneers

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Troubleshooting Guide

PROBLEM KNOWN CAUSES SOLUTIONS

• Incomplete pressing of veneer.

• Incorrect pressing and/or holding time.

• Incorrect pressure.• Sprue size is too

narrow and/or too long.• Proper sprue angle is

not followed. • Wax-up is too thin.

• Verify recommended parame-ters, accuracy of pressing unit. Calibrate as necessary.

• Increase the pressing time and/or hold time in conjuction with reducing the pressure.

• Follow spruing guidelines.• Follow minimum thickness

guidelines.

• Under-glazed,or dull, rough surface.

• First glaze was under- fired.

• Glaze coat applied too thin.

• Follow recommended firing temperatures, ensure furnace is properly calibrated.

• Increase final temperature no more then 3-5 degrees at a time.

• Apply even, uniform coat of properly mixed glaze.

• Crack or frac-ture in veneer.

• Excessive grinding speed and/or pressure.

• Not keeping veneerwet during finishing.

• Sharp line angles in preparation.

• Grinding veneer while on the model.

• Use light pressure and slow speeds when finishing; avoid using coarse diamonds or stones.

• Keep veneer wet duringgrinding.

• Block out any sharp line angles with die spacer if possible.

• Do not finish veneer on the model.

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PROBLEM KNOWN CAUSES SOLUTIONS

• Bubbles dur-ing glaze.

• Entering oven too quickly before cycle began.

• Glaze coat applied too thick.

• Vacuum was pulled during glaze cycle.

• Veneers not properly sandblasted on surface.

• Use recommended procedure for drying and heating at initia-tion of glaze cycle.

• Apply even, uniform coat of properly mixed glaze.

• Vacuum not necessary when glazing.

• Properly clean suface before glazing.

• Flashing of material after pressing.

• Incorrect pressing and/or holding time.

• Incorrect pressure.• Investment protocol

not followed.

• Verify recommended parame-ters, accuracy of pressing unit.Calibrate as necessary.

• Increase pressing time inconjunction with lowering pres-sure until flashing is eliminated.

• Follow manufacturer's recom- mendations regarding bench setting time, entry temperatureof burnout furnace.

• Veneer is too monochro-matic.

• Opacous propertiesnecessary to achieve desired shade make incisal not translucent enough.

• Cut back incisal of veneer and layer Prismatik ThinPress incisal layering powders to achieve desired translucency.

• If cut-back is not possible,proper use of staining to replicate incisal translucency is next best option.

• Underlying shade bleeds through.

• Dark stump shade.• Using an incorrect

shade of ingot.

• Confirm that the prescribed ingot shade is being used.

• Note: Shade changes of more than three shades may not be attainable without preparation toallow for ideal thickness of the veneer material (more than 0.8mm).

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