3M announced that WIELAND + Technik Gmbh & Co. has agreed to license the company’s patented technology for coloring processed zirconia.
The technology allows uncolored zirconia to be shaded after it has already been milled into the shape of a dental restoration, providing for quality color matching and esthetics, according to a press release.
3M said in the release that most of the dental industry uses this technology for coloring zirconia restorations, and the company is open to licensing the technology to other zirconia manufacturers.
Read the full press release below.
3M Licenses Zirconia Technology to WIELAND
ST. PAUL, Minn. – 3M announced today that WIELAND Dental + Technik GmbH & Co. entered a licensing agreement with 3M for use of 3M's processed zirconia coloring technology.
The 3M technology enables the coloring of zirconia-based dental restorations and improves esthetics for patients. With the technology, a dental technician can shade uncolored, tooth-shaped zirconia to a prescribed shade, color-matching the restoration to the natural color of patients’ teeth. Since 3M developed and launched this innovative technology, much of the dental industry colors dental zirconia using this process. 3M remains open to further licensing of the technology.
Source: 3M ESPE