Standard Vita Bleach shades BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4 and A1 to D4 are the standard based shades that basically all dental restorations have conformed to for many years. That means opaque materials are used first which defines the term adaptive ceramic techniques. We no longer do that, we are now using subtractive techniques meaning translucency is priority in how much light can pass through a restoration at any given point with luminosity being how much brightness can be developed from the entire construction. This then increases controlled overall light generation.

As Bleach shades are configured basically mainly from white oxide pigmentation with a basic whitish enamel for the incisal gives little contrast difference, subtractive techniques now pave a new dimension in how opacity can be reduced to match natural light transmission as found in natural dentition. The optical appearance of white then can be controlled far easier as the hybrid interpretation of a bleach shade as a modern tooth concept that is popular in America which often looks opaque in most lighting conditions is improved.

In 2025 and now back in America we decided to reconfigure Bleach shades to provide a better range of options related to how one can choose bleach shade appearance by focussing on brightness and luminosity and not just base opacity. We also focussed on how the structure of an AOX could be better developed and finished as this implant direction of technology is far more complex than standard restorative techniques. This page gives an overall understanding of what we have developed and now offering.

The construction is now based on our knowledge and background from our past involvement and developments in manufacturing high fusing dental ceramics systems and years of restorative ceramic casework. Light science has always driven dental ceramic directions since the mid sixties. Today dental ceramics is very advanced especially in our casework direction and technique is now paying dividends in what we can offer.

We no longer use multi-layered or color based pucks as they restricted light penetration. All pigmentation metal oxides cast shadows so we have learned a lot in how to use them. We now sinter all our zirconia to eliminate its internal light restrictions to achieve 80% clarity as zirconia is not transparent as a material. We also work to eliminate Titanium bars when not required to reduce product pricing and to allow more light transmission and linear strength. We have not had a failure.

The pucks are US made so we have good support in what we are doing to reach 1300 MPa linear grain geometry throughout our monolithic zirconia base parameters. This allows us to achieve far less restrictive light transmission through the entire Zirconia sub-frame. We then coat the first two layers to physically create a boundary layer to stop UV light reaching the zirconia, as UV light is absorbed totally by clear glass and zirconia. So the boundary layer is a defusing layer and remains active in the upper ceramic layering in how we configure the ceramic layers.

This makes for a far brighter case result in direct daylight. So as you might guess we use no stain and glazing techniques. The remaining ceramic layers then can be independent, subtractive and not adaptive by reducing the optical density which we do not want. Creating the final layering by varying there light handling characteristics to our AOX requirements becomes far easier and is closer to light transmission in natural dentition. We have now full control in how UV light affects the luminosity and brightness through pure technique.