Veneering without compromise: "VITA LUMEX AC is an added value for every laboratory!"

It is always exciting to watch when a veneered ceramic restoration moves out of the furnace, step-by-step, during the cooling phase. At this point, you can see whether the contouring can be found in the desired shape and shade effect in the fired ceramic. It's disappointing when the results are not exactly what you had hoped for, in terms of seamless and cost-effective laboratory processes. We have all faced the same scenario - excessive shrinkage has caused the ceramic to lift off the frame, in turn resulting in multiple, costly corrective firings, with the shape and shade ultimately compromised. Is it time for a new veneering ceramic?

Our answer is yes and we explain why the leucite-reinforced, glass-ceramic veneering system VITA LUMEX AC delivers the restorative results you are looking for directly out of the furnace. Discover the economic benefits that the formula and handling process can provide as well.

It's a real wow moment when the restoration comes out of the oven and all the details of the layering come out exactly as you imagined.

Oliver Bothe, Master Dental Technician and Product Manager at VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany, 5/22

Why is the firing stability of a veneering ceramic so important, and what impact does it have on all the laboratory processes?

Firing stability is incredibly important, especially when it comes to multiple firings. This is because it prevents the previously created morphology from being rounded off and lost due to the heat. Excessive shrinkage during the firing process may also cause veneering ceramic in the cervical or occlusal regions to lift off the frame and become distorted. These kinds of defects are difficult to repair and require a great deal of effort. It is understandably frustrating when corrections have to be done over and over again. As a rule, unnecessary firing also involves the risk of deviations in shape and shade. For this reason, restorations should always be fired as little as possible during the creation process. The decisive advantage of VITA LUMEX AC is that the veneering ceramic offers very good firing and edge stability with up to four firings.

How is the excellent firing stability of VITA LUMEX AC possible, and what exactly are the benefits?

Thanks to its ideal grain size distribution, VITA LUMEX AC ensures extremely low shrinkage. This means that the morphology is always under control. Low and selective shrinkage is incredibly important, especially when it comes to thicker layers. With single crowns, a one-bake process -veneering with only one dentin firing - is possible again This makes VITA LUMEX AC highly efficient; the fewer the firings, the more profitable it is. The excellent micro-interlocking of the ceramic particles results in outstanding stability and allows for targeted, rapid contouring. And for those who prefer working in several steps, they can still rely on absolute firing stability even after additional firings. VITA LUMEX AC provides very high efficiency, as well as excellent esthetics.

What else is unique about VITA LUMEX AC, and how does the veneering ceramic ensure a seamless workflow in the laboratory?

VITA LUMEX AC is a modern ceramic system. Its wide range of indications is certainly an interesting thing. Previously, there have always been specialized veneering ceramics for the different framework materials. Now we have a universal or hybrid veneering ceramic that can be used on zirconia, lithium disilicate, feldspar ceramic and titanium. More specifically, this means that laboratory drawers no longer have to be filled with a wide variety of bottles of veneering ceramic, reducing storage costs. The shade accuracy of the dentin materials are always true to the VITA shade standards, providing the foundation for patient-friendly reproductions. When the base tooth shade is correct, then that's half the battle.

What challenges had to be overcome during the development of the VITA LUMEX AC universal veneering system, and how was success achieved?

One challenge during development was, of course, that the different framework materials also have different translucencies. This means that one and the same layering will always have a different shade effect, depending on the base. The more translucent the framework, the less the intended shade effect will be reflected or perceived. In order to match the translucent effect of the different frameworks, the highly fluorescent POWERWASH materials were developed. These are already shaded to match the dentin materials, providing deep enhancement of the basic shade, to a varying extent, depending on the framework translucency. This ensures that the shade intensity of the veneering ceramic is not lost, even with more translucent frameworks. With the basic tooth shade B2, the user simply works with the ready-to-use POWERWASH B2 without having to do any complicated mixing.

Why is it so easy to switch to VITA LUMEX AC, and what generally needs to be considered with the low-fusing veneering ceramic?

Of course – as always – working cleanly and preventing contamination is important. Only the original modeling liquids should be used, and care should be taken when handling ceramic insulations that contain oil or silicone. Firing paste should also be used sparingly to avoid excessive combustion and ash build-up, which will contaminate the ceramic layering. Apart from that, the learning curve is very short. The principle of VITA LUMEX AC is based on a classic VMK layering, which is based on the VITA metal-ceramic developed in 1962. The VITA LUMEX AC tutorials demonstrate this using several different examples. The VITA shade match formula also ensures that the basic shade matches the VITA shade standards. The sets Starter, Standard, Cut-back, Expert, Gingiva and Powerwash are structured logically and clearly and contain jus the right amount of materials. VITA LUMEX AC offers ideal conditions for changing and no longer accepting compromises.

Why laboratories should switch to the VITA LUMEX AC veneering ceramic system

Universally applicable, less warehousing and tied-up capital
Effective layering, thanks to excellent stability
Firing stability with the one-bake technique and up to four firings
Esthetic results, due to shade fidelity to VITA shade standards
Financial success through effective veneering and satisfied customers

Are you interested? Click here and find out more:

Veneering without compromise: "VITA LUMEX AC is an added value for every laboratory!"

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