Lithium disilicate a translucent rock for dental restoration

Lithium disilicate: a translucent rock for dental restoration

In the field of dental restoration that pursues natural beauty and durability, lithium disilicate glass ceramics (Li ₂ Si ₂ O ₅) have become a shining star with their unique advantages. This high-performance ceramic material combines excellent mechanical strength with outstanding aesthetic performance, providing a powerful solution for modern restorative dentistry.

The core value of lithium disilicate lies in its excellent physical properties and aesthetic characteristics. Its bending strength is significantly higher than that of traditional feldspar ceramics (usually above 300-400 MPa), and it can effectively withstand complex chewing forces in the oral cavity, especially suitable for making inlays, high inlays, partial crowns, and even three unit anterior dental bridges in the posterior tooth area. At the same time, its translucency and refractive index are extremely close to human enamel, and with a wide range of color options, it can achieve stunning, almost realistic biomimetic aesthetic effects, making it an ideal choice for front tooth veneers and full crown restorations.

Its clinical application is extremely flexible and efficient:

Quick repair beside the chair: Thanks to its excellent machinability, pre sintered lithium disilicate ceramic blocks are the darling of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) technology. Dentists can complete tooth preparation, optical impression, design, cutting, final sintering, and tooth insertion in one visit, greatly improving diagnosis and treatment efficiency and patient experience.

High strength bonding: The surface of lithium disilicate restorations can be etched with hydrofluoric acid to form a microporous structure, and combined with the application of silane coupling agents, it can produce strong and durable micro mechanical fixation and chemical bonding with resin cement. This reliable bonding significantly enhances the overall retention and edge closure of the restoration, extending its service life.

In addition, lithium disilicate has excellent biocompatibility and chemical stability. As an inert ceramic, it has stable properties in the oral environment, no release of metal ions, no allergic reactions or gingival staining, and good tissue affinity.

With the development of materials science, new types of lithium disilicate materials (such as high permeability and ultra-high strength) continue to emerge, further expanding their application scope and even challenging the application scenarios of some zirconia. The deep integration with digital technology is continuously driving new heights in minimally invasive, precise, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing dental restoration.

In summary, lithium disilicate glass ceramics have become an indispensable core material for modern aesthetic dental restoration due to their perfect balance of strength and aesthetics, excellent processing performance, and biological safety. They provide patients with dual guarantees of functionality and natural smile, laying an important foundation in the field of dental materials.