Consultants’ Comments

• “3M ESPE Lava Crowns and Bridges allow me to provide my patient with strong, esthetic restorations.”
• “The marginal integrity is equivalent to that achieved with ceramic-metal restorations.”
• “As found with all restorations, esthetics is largely dependent on the laboratory fabricating the restoration.”

Description

3M ESPE Lava Crowns and Bridges is a CAD/CAM system for anterior and posterior all-ceramic crowns and 3- or 4-unit bridges with a maximum span of 38 mm. Tooth preparation is similar to that for ceramic-metal restorations with a chamfer margin. Dies are scanned in the 3M ESPE Lava scanning unit, followed by three-dimensional milling of the zirconium oxide framework. The framework is colored with one of seven available shades to coordinate with the final restoration. It is then overlaid with 3M ESPE Lava Ceram veneering ceramic. The zirconia ceramic provides high strength, while the overlay ceramic is designed for optimal esthetics. 3M ESPE Lava restorations may be cemented with traditional cements.

Editors’ Note: The original evaluations was published in THE DENTAL ADVISOR, Vol. 21, No. 10, December 2004.