Procera® Aluminum Oxide

The Procera® System involves a densely sintered high-purity alumina ceramic material to fabricate copings for all-ceramic crowns. Additionally, one-piece or multi-unit all-ceramic bridges, and ceramic implant abutments can be fabricated by a pressed powder technology. These ceramic units are then combined with low-fusing porcelain that creates the anatomic form of the restoration and the occlusal morphology. For crowns involving natural teeth, a stone die or replica of the prepared natural tooth is scanned using the Procera® Scanner, and the data collected is then designed using the computer software to the form and dimensions needed for the coping. Copings for natural teeth can also be created using the dual-scan technique. In this procedure, the coping design is created in wax and the wax pattern and the die are scanned and then combined by the computer software to create the exact coping form and dimensions required. For the bridge, scanning individual dies or using the dual-scan technique can create individual units. A similar approach can be used to create a one-piece bridge substructure. Implant abutments can be designed using the 3D software in the virtual reality mode or by creating a wax pattern and using the dual-scanning technique. The individual copings or one-piece all-ceramic substructures are manufactured by Nobel Biocare at their facilities and then returned to the laboratory of origin for veneering porcelain application and final finishing of the restoration. The needed qualities of strength, color stability, favorable wear characteristics, and precision of fit are the characteristics needed in any all-ceramic restoration so that it may be placed in all regions of the dental arches. These are the qualities of Procera® Aluminum Oxide components which have been under evaluation by the Center in various studies for several years. The abstracts and reports of these studies are presented in this website.