Susanne Scherrer

Title: Dental Ceramics - where to use which

Synopsis:
Many novelties have emerged in the world of CAD/CAM dental ceramics with new processing, microstructures, mechanical properties, translucencies and machinability, which has enlarged treatment options. For zirconia, significant innovation has been made regarding translucency for improving the esthetic outcome in order to use it as a monolithic (full contour) ceramic without the need of veneering. For implant supported reconstructions, the use of a titanium base on which the ceramic restoration is adhesively cemented has gained wide acceptance replacing the more expensive traditional metal-ceramic technology.

Nevertheless, attention will also be drawn on errors that have significantly contributed to the early fracture of the ceramic restoration. Understanding better the materials will help decision making for the type of reconstruction to provide the best ground for a long-term successful outcome. This presentation will highlight current ceramics for clinical treatment options but also provide some warning of poor planning, decision making and processing of ceramics illustrated by clinical failures cases analyzed using fractographic means.

Objectives:

1. To gain understanding in the key differences in the properties between the various dental ceramics
2. To gain understanding in the key differences between the 3Y zirconia and the more translucent monolithic zirconia
3. To provide information on indications / limitations of zirconia-based restorations
4. To draw attention on errors from poor material choice, design issues and processing

Biography:
Susanne S. Scherrer is Full Professor and currently Chair of the University Clinics of Dental Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland. She is also Head of Biomaterials and Head of Continuing Education.

She graduated in 1984 with a DDS from the University of Geneva. She continued with a part time training in Fixed Prosthodontics from 84-89 and obtained a doctoral degree (Dr.med.dent) in 1986. From 1989-91 she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Texas HSC at San Antonio in the Department of Restorative Dentistry. In 2003 she obtained her Private Docent title (PD) from the University of Geneva.

She was President of the IADR-DMG (2001-02) and President of the Academy of Dental Materials (2002-04). In 2014 she was awarded the IADR-Distinguished Scientist Wilmer Souder Award from the Dental Materials Group. She is a fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials and a fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics. She currently serves on the Editorial Boards of the JADA Foundation Science and the Swiss Dental Journal. Her primary area of research and publishing involves dental ceramics, mechanical properties, clinical longitudinal trials and failure analysis using fractography. She has worked as a general practitioner from 1984 until 2015 in extramural family private practices half of her time.