High precision is required in the manufacture of dental restorations. The coating experts at Balzers, the technology brand for high-quality surfaces of the Swiss Oerlikon Group, develop coatings not only for micro-tools that enable productive machining of highly abrasive materials in dental technology. Precision components such as abutments also receive high-quality wear protection - aesthetics included.
Machining high-performance materials in dental technology is a major challenge for the tool industry. Machining, in which micro-milling cutters with a diameter of 0.1 to 1 millimeter are used with the smallest manufacturing tolerances, is extremely demanding. Today, dental laboratories are equipped with highly productive, automated manufacturing systems. The tool wear that occurs and the associated production costs can be significantly reduced by using highly developed coatings.
Baldia Compact and Baldia Compact DC for high-strength dental ceramics
The Baldia Compact and Baldia Compact DC diamond coatings have been specially developed for machining compacted and sintered powder materials as well as dental ceramics. The latter allows even the tightest tolerances for both the tool diameter and the coating thickness in order to achieve the highest production accuracy with a constant tool life. These properties are particularly important for micro-tools when machining these highly abrasive materials. The abrasive wear during
Baldia Compact is able to withstand the abrasive wear when machining high-performance dental ceramics such as zirconium oxide thanks to its maximum hardness, which significantly extends the service life of the tools. The combination of high wear resistance and low friction reduces heat input, enabling dental laboratories to achieve a high-quality surface finish even at higher cutting speeds. The end result is a noticeable improvement in the surface quality of high-quality dental ceramics, so that patients benefit from optimum dental restorations.
Balinit Tisaflex: Machining titanium, precious metals and non-precious alloys for dental restorations
Fig. 1: Non-precious alloys are difficult to machine and quickly push the micro-tools used in dental laboratories to their limits. Coatings from Oerlikon Balzers offer robust wear protection as well as very good thermal stability and oxidation resistance to significantly improve the service life of micro-tools in dental technology (Photo: Mack Dentaltechnik GmbH)In addition to ceramics, titanium, precious metals and non-precious metal (NPM) alloys made of chromium, cobalt and molybdenum are also used in dental technology. As these materials are difficult to machine, they also quickly push the micro-tools used in dental laboratories to their limits. These materials tend to form built-up edges, which promote adhesive wear and therefore require premature tool changes. The Balinit Tisaflex coating developed by Oerlikon Balzers offers excellent wear protection for this application. This high-performance coating also has very good thermal stability and oxidation resistance. The multi-layer structure counteracts the wear mechanisms and enables a longer service life, which has been confirmed in tests both in the company's own machining laboratory and by manufacturers.
Multi-layer structure counteracts wear mechanisms
Dental laboratories have to deliver dental restorations as quickly as possible, which requires meticulous production planning. Today, they work highly efficiently and automatically in order to reduce time and costs and to optimize the manufacturing process for high-end dental restorations as much as possible. This coating is particularly suitable for machining cobalt-chrome alloys, which are frequently used in dental technology, as it protects the substrate against high temperatures and adhesive wear (Fig. 1).
Advanced coatings for abutments in gingival pink
Oerlikon Balzers offers customers in the dental technology sector more than just coatings for cutting micro-tools. For almost thirty years, the company has been working with clinics and laboratories to provide wear-resistant and antimicrobial coatings for the surfaces of surgical and dental instruments. The coatings of the Balimed series from Oerlikon Balzers, specially developed for medical and dental applications and applied by physical vapor deposition (PVD), meet the high demands and bring clear advantages for the benefit of the patient.
The functionalization of surfaces with biocompatible, wear-resistant coatings is now an indispensable part of modern dental technology. The requirements for restorations with implants are subject to equally strict quality requirements and biocompatibility guidelines. The Balimed Ticana coating from Oerlikon Balzers even exceeds these requirements. It is applied to abutments, the connecting link between the tooth root replacement and the dental crown, has the same color as the human gum and is therefore discreet and aesthetic. Abutments are usually made of titanium, aluminum oxide ceramic or zirconium dioxide ceramic.
Balimed Ticana not only stands out for its aesthetics, but also for its numerous functional properties, which have been extensively tested. For example, its corrosion resistance protects against the effects of oral hygiene products and saliva. In tests, Balimed Ticana was immersed in 25 % sodium chloride (NaCl) and the color remained completely intact even a month later. Minimal abrasion and low wear enable stable fixation of the implant and thus ensure a long service life.
Fig. 2: Aesthetics and function combined: Specially developed for dental abutments and dental instruments, the rose-colored PVD coating Balimed Ticana not only offers an aesthetic appearance, but also functional properties (Photo: Oerlikon Balzers)
Experience and knowledge in the development of application-specific solutions for medical technology are based on many years of cooperation with medical experts, universities and university clinics. PVD coating solutions from Oerlikon Balzers can improve treatment outcomes for patients and generate economic added value for healthcare products. Thanks to standardized processes, these solutions can also be offered worldwide. As a leading global supplier of surface technologies, Oerlikon Balzers has been developing coating solutions and systems for over 75 years, advising customers and coating millions of tools and components every year
