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June 2009 | Dental Lab Products
step-bt-step: ips e.max press lt

Pressed perfection

Creating highly esthetic onlays using IPS e.max Press LT lithium disilicate.

by Juan Olivier, CDT, MDT, F.A.C.E., LK Dental Studio, San Ramon, Calif.; Dentistry by Dr. Steven Johansen;
Information provided by Ivoclar Vivadent.

The patient presented with four posterior quadrant amalgam restorations that had fractured the enamel of each tooth (Fig. A). To restore the teeth, the dentist decided to place a small direct composite on the distal of the first bicuspid and prescribe IPS e.max onlays for the other three teeth based on the optical properties and strength of the material as well as the ability to conventionally cement the restorations.

The clinician also was concerned about hiding the internal discoloration of the dentin caused by the amalgam fillings. It was decided that IPS e.max Press LT low translucency ingot would be used to address all these concerns.

The dentist removed the amalgam fillings and prepped the teeth to receive the onlays (Fig. B).

In the laboratory
01 Pour the impressions and fabricate master models.

02 Wax the restorations to full contour (Figs. C, D, E). Note: If you use the stain technique with IPS e.max Press, you must be extremely accurate on the full-contour waxing. The contours, morphology, and precision on the margins, contacts, and occlusion must be perfect to take advantage of the efficiencies of the press and stain technique. After the restorations are pressed, the only procedure should be removal of the sprue, leaving a great canvas for adding a variety of stains and glazes to make the ceramics come alive.

03 Sprue and invest the wax patterns and then press using IPS e.max Press LT (Fig. F). For this case, I used LT shade A1.

04 Fit the pressed restorations on the master model.

05 Apply stain and glaze to the surface of the restorations (Fig. G) and fire. Fig. H shows the final restorations, and Fig. I the blend of the natural ceramics in the mouth. 

related Slideshow

• The technique in pictures