Glidewell Laboratories has launched a recycling program for its postmilled BruxZir solid zirconia milling blanks.
Glidewell refines yttria-stablized zirconia powder to a significantly reduced grain size. This material is then utilized in conjunction with proprietary processes to create monolithic zirconia BruxZir milling blanks for the fabrication of BruxZir solid zirconia crowns, bridges, and implant restorations.
When BruxZir restorations are milled from BruxZir milling blanks, not all of the refined zirconia material is utilized. The lab cannot reuse this material.
For the past year, the lab's senior director of research and development, Robin Carden, has been researching ways to recycle the remaining 90% of unused postmilled BruxZir milling blank material.
"Because zirconia is wear-resistant and able to withstand high temperatures, this material is ideal for applications such as molten metal nozzles, oil field valves, and high temperature insulation," Carden stated in a press release. "By recycling this material, Glidewell Laboratories is reducing its carbon footprint and allowing this material to be repurposed and reused for other applications that involve high temperature, thermal shock, corrosion, and high wear and impact."
