Discover the world of colours

IPS Ivocolor is the new system of universal stains and glazes from Ivoclar Vivadent. But what lies behind this new product? The developers José Pulido and Harald Kerschbaumer are well schooled in the philosophy of colour development, which is why they gladly answered our questions.

Please explain the concept of the new stains.

Harald Kerschbaumer: We pursued two objectives with the development of this system of stains. Firstly, the stains were intended to be suitable for all Ivoclar Vivadent ceramic materials and, secondly, they were to offer flexible application. For the surface staining of ceramic restorations, we developed IPS Ivocolor Shade as a paste. The material permits very easy and efficient characterization of restorations. In contrast, IPS Ivocolor Essence is available as powdered stains. It can be used to tint layering materials or it can be mixed with the respective liquid to be applied as liquid stains. In this way, dental technicians have several processing options.

Harald Kerschbaumer, José Pulido

What are the special features of IPS Ivocolor Shades?

José Pulido: IPS Ivocolor Shades feature a slightly higher viscosity than conventional stains in paste form. The big advantage is that the Shades show high storage stability without sedimentation. In other words: The firm components do not deposit on the bottom of the jar. The consistency and processing properties of the pastes thus remain unchanged for a long period of time. Besides, we have optimized the shading of the IPS Ivocolor Shades for the surface staining of monolithic restorations. When choosing the shade, all A-D, Bleach and Chromascop shades can be reproduced irrespective of the ceramic substructure. It makes no difference if its a glass-ceramic, such as IPS e.max, or an oxide ceramic like Zenostar from Wieland. To facilitate shade allocation, dental technicians are provided with shade combination tables.

How many different IPS Ivocolor Shades does the assortment contain?

José Pulido: There are nine Shade dentin shades and three Shade incisal shades. We know that the tooth shades of the A-group are the ones reproduced most frequently. Therefore, we were not satisfied to develop only one basic shade for all A-shades. The objective was to match each A shade as closely as possible. This is why there are three different Shade dentin shades for the reproduction of all the A-shades alone. The enamel parts of lab-fabricated dental restorations can be imitated with the three IPS Ivocolor Shade incisal shades. This can be attributed mainly to the special selection of blueish and grayish shades, but also to the fluorescent effect of the stains. They give the restorations a lifelike appearance. Furthermore, all IPS Ivocolor Shades feature a certain degree of fluorescence, which decreases with the intensity of the shade, same as in natural teeth.

Please tell us more about the innovations in IPS Ivocolor Essences!

Harald Kerschbaumer: The basic glass with optimized grain sizes and a special grain size distribution is new. It permits the stains to be applied very homogeneously. We kept the needs of dental technicians in mind when developing the Essences and we combined the best features of all the existing Ivoclar Vivadent stains in one system and further enhanced them. The brighter shades were provided with fluorescing particles in accordance with the natural models. This is particularly important for internal staining. The brightness is supposed to come from the depth of the restoration. The IPS Ivocolor Essences basic shades blue, yellow and red are new. With these basic shades, dental technicians have the individual freedom to mix their own stains.

What are the options of the dental technician when using IPS Ivocolor Essence?

Harald Kerschbaumer: The beautiful thing about IPS Ivocolor Essence is that its powder form renders it suitable for nearly every type of application. The Essence materials can be mixed with the IPS Ivocolor Mixing Liquid to stains that can be used for the surface characterizations of restorations. Moreover, it is also possible the include the Essence materials directly into the ceramic veneers. Another option of an internal application is the characterization of cut-backs followed by an intermediate firing cycle. If individual shades are needed in the veneering technique, the layering ceramics can be tinted with IPS Ivocolor Essence. Also, the individualization of the gingiva with the reddish shades should not be forgotten. Hence, IPS Ivocolor offers almost unlimited possibilities for the individual characterization of dental restorations.

Mr Kerschbaumer and Mr Pulido, thank you for the interview and the comprehensive information about this new product.

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