Clinicians desire solutions that are not only effective but also save time in everyday practice. The processing, firing, characterizing, and cooling of restorations can eat up a lot of time, particularly in high-volume practices that serve large patient populations.
Consider a material that eliminates the need for the firing process without sacrificing esthetics or durability. The GC Initial LiSi Block from GC America, crafted from lithium disilicate glass ceramic, does just that, according to Jacob Dent, DDS, who has been using these blocks in his practice since 2023.
“The biggest thing for me is the time savings,” Dr Dent says. “It’s the time, a factor which also plays a big role in the financial aspect of a dental practice. If I can get a chair back open in an hour versus 2, I can see a whole new patient.”
LiSi Blocks are formulated using GC’s proprietary high-density micronization (HDM) technology, which is identified by its densely packed microcrystals. These microcrystals offer a variety of benefits, says Gaurav Joshi, PhD, BDS, FICD, senior product marketing manager of GC America.
“Small crystals also cause less wear. Wear is a complex phenomenon where size and shape of crystals can affect the wear behavior. Large crystals typically cause more wear and more rough surface that will also abrade the supporting tooth,” Dr Joshi says. “With the LiSi Block, because the crystals are so small, there is less wear on the restoration itself as well as the opposing tooth.”
With its fully crystallizated nature, clinicians can skip the firing step, which saves them time.
Another feature that Dr Dent finds appealing for his practice is the optimized margins, with an edge stability that makes LiSi-crafted restorations not only durable but also eliminates repeat visits. Its optimized margins along with time savings work so well for Dr Dent, he can create multiple anterior restorations for same-day dentistry, as evidenced by an anecdote about a specific case.
“Yesterday I had a patient come in at 1 pm. At 1:45 we had signed him off for 5 anterior crowns and we close at 4 pm, so there is no way with the traditional firing block that we were going to be able to get out of there on time,” he says. “But with the LiSi Blocks, we did an amazing anterior case for him, prepped all 5, and milled and delivered the restorations within 2 hours. That is one of the biggest benefits to me.”
GC Initial LiSi Block
GC Initial LiSi Block is a fully crystallized lithium disilicate block that delivers optimal physical properties without firing. It is designed to produce natural beauty in a single appointment, with durable esthetic, accurate margins, and natural opalescence. Clinicians just mill, polish, and place. GC Initial LiSi Block can dramatically reduce process time, with no need to fire, glaze, characterize, and cool. This saves 40% of the time required to create your restorations, reducing the chair time for both clinician and patient. Being fully crystallized, GC Initial LiSi Block can be milled directly with smooth and accurate margins. Alternatively, it can be fired after staining and maintain great marginal accuracy.
GC America
In modern dentistry, precision is key, particularly when it comes to procedures that involve creating and placing restorations such as onlays and inlays. These restorations are often designed using CAD/CAM, which allows for highly accurate digital designs. However, even with advanced technology, the accuracy of the margin—the edge where the restoration meets the tooth—can significantly impact the success of the procedure.
Dr Joshi emphasizes the importance of marginal accuracy and adaptability in achieving a good fit for restorations. Margins that are not precise can lead to fit issues, which means the restoration may not sit properly on the tooth. This can cause a range of problems, from discomfort for the patient to potential failure of the restoration.
However, the GC Initial LiSi Block offers a solution to these challenges.
“But here, since there is no shrinkage involved, you get better fit of the restorations, allowing clinicians to practice minimally invasive dentistry,”
Dr Joshi says.
Minimally invasive dentistry focuses on preserving as much of the natural tooth structure as possible, which is crucial for maintaining the long-term health of the teeth. When margins are accurate and the restoration fits perfectly, it reduces the need for extensive adjustments or removal of additional tooth structure. This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also supports the overall goal of conservative treatment.
Finally, LiSi Blocks are designed to closely mimic the translucency and color of natural teeth, with 4 shades and 2 translucencies available. According to Dr Joshi, this allows the restorations to blend with the patient’s existing dentition. The high-density microcrystals in LiSi Blocks contribute to their exceptional polishability and smooth surface, which reportedly enhances the visual appeal.
“Because these are already fully crystallized, there is no change in color. You get what you see,” Dr Joshi says. “This means that clinicians are able to determine the shades more accurately.”
These features combine to create a restorative material that aims to save time while maintaining high standards. It is a particularly helpful material for Dr Dent, who serves many neurodiverse and neurosensitive patients at his practice, Baton Rouge Modern Dentistry in Louisiana.
“For me specifically, my specialty is working with patients with neurodiversity, neurosensitivities, or special needs, so time is not necessarily the thing that they give me a lot of,” he says. “The patients’ chair time is limited. So if I do have to do a crown, it is much easier to do a same-day crown in 45 minutes than it is to do it in an hour and a half.”
LiSi cuts costs as well, per Dr Dent.
“A lot of times we’ll get patients who come in and say, ‘I just want whatever my insurance covers. Give me that base benefit crown,’ and that’s traditionally a nonfired crown,” he says. “So we can give them a LiSi Block because it is going to be less expensive for the patient. But it also takes away the time spent in the chair.”
