Other Dental Porcelains

This page could give you a lot of tech talk and you would probably get lost in the middle of all these names and terms. But I will try to keep it simple.

3G OPC Porcelain:
The 3G OPC ceramic system's unique formulation results in a highly esthetic, translucent, and less abrasive "over porcelain". Its high strength and durability make it the material of choice for all-ceramic anterior bridgework.
3G OPC Porcelain is both chemically and physically compatible with zirconia-made products that are not glass infiltrated, such as Cercon and Procera. As zirconia-based core copings and multiple unit bridges become more and more common, there is a need to improve upon the overall esthetics of this strong and durable metal-free framework. 3G OPC  overlays and core stain materials are used on top of zirconia cores to manipulate hue, value, and chroma of the restoration

IPS Empress 2:
IPS Empress 2 is manufactured the same way as Empress 1, but consists of completely different ingrediences. Whereas Empress 1 is a leucite-reinforced glass ceramic, Empress 2 consists of a disilicate core that is layered with a sintered glass ceramic. This sintered glass ceramic contains fluorapatite crystals similar to the needle-like fluorapatite crystals found in fluoride-enriched natural tooth structure. This process mimics natural tooth structure, not only in composition through the use of fluorapatite, but through the layering process of providing a strong dentinal framework overlaid with a translucent enamel-like layer. The sintered glass ceramic also has inherent fluorescence, opalescence, and an enamel-like translucency. With other systems that have tried multiple-unit, metal-free bridges over the years, the underlying framework was opaque and ruined the benefits of being metal-free because it still ended up with an opaque-looking bridge. Not so with Empress 2. The framework actually becomes more translucent during the fabrication process and compliments the underlying tooth structure as soon as it is in the mouth. Additionally, the framework itself has an incredibly polishable surface and high wear compatibility with the opposing natural teeth. Older generation ceramics were too brittle and hard and caused a wear of the opposing natural teeth. Empress 2 has nearly three times the strength and three times the fracture toughness as the original material. Therfore it is now the only metal-free material that is specifically useful for cosmetic three-unit bridges.

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