Lithium disilicate is one of the four most common materials used to make dental crowns and other prosthesis along with solid metal, porcelain and zirconia. Holding clear advantages over alternative materials in certain areas, particularly aesthetics and speed, has made lithium disilicate the restoration of choice for many dentists, especially for anterior crowns or bridges.

What is Advanced Lithium Disilicate?

Advanced lithium disilicate is the term used to describe CEREC Tessera, a glass ceramic that offers superior strength compared to traditional lithium disilicate. It has a unique chemistry that incorporates two complementary crystal structures within a glassy zirconia matrix. These two crystals work together to create an unrivalled fusion of strength. The composition uses virgilite crystals that are activated through the matrix firing process. This not only adds strength, but also contributes to the material’s tooth-like aesthetics.

How Else Can Cerec Tessera Improve Restorations?

The dual crystal structure of CEREC Tessera’s advanced lithium disilicate is designed to interact with the visible light spectrum for ideal translucence, fluorescence and opalescence. This helps it deliver the same tooth-like aesthetics as traditional glass ceramics even for the most highly visible aesthetic restorations. The blocks are designed to simplify shade selection with a range of true shades available that match the final restoration without the need for any specialised selection tools.

Using CEREC Tessera blocks can be a quicker process compared to other glass ceramics as the material is delivered already partially crystallised to allow for fast and accurate shade selection. Clinicians can save up to 44% of total processing time (grinding and firing), according to Dentsply.