Keywordszirconia vs pmma vs peekdental disc material comparisonwhich cad cam material to millzirconia pmma peek differencedental milling material selectionmonolithic restoration material
Three discs sit in every modern lab's arbor: zirconia for definitive strength, PMMA for provisional polishability, and PEEK for a dentin-like, radiolucent framework. Reaching for the wrong one is how labs remake cases. The fix is to rank the material against what the case actually demands.
When to reach for each material
| Material | Best for | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|
| Zirconia | Definitive crowns, bridges, full-arch — where strength and longevity lead | You need a quick, cheap try-in only |
| PMMA | Provisionals, temporaries, diagnostic wax-up verification | The restoration must last years intra-orally |
| PEEK | Implant frameworks, bruxer splints, RPDs — stress on abutments matters | Max anterior aesthetics are the only goal |
See the full ranges: dental zirconia discs, PMMA dental discs and PEEK dental discs.
Strength, aesthetics and cost at a glance
| Property | Zirconia | PMMA | PEEK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexural strength | 650–1350 MPa | ~80–100 MPa | ~150–200 MPa |
| Intra-oral wear | Permanent | Weeks–months | Long-term |
| Aesthetics | High (multilayer) | Good, polishable | Matte, often layered |
| Cost per blank | Higher | Low | Mid |
How they fit one digital workflow
- Scan once with an intraoral or lab scanner, then mill the PMMA try-in the same hour.
- Approve the shape, switch the blank to zirconia for the definitive restoration — same open 98.5 mm arbor, no re-design.
- For implant cases, mill a PEEK verification framework first; its dentin-like modulus protects the abutment before the final screws in.
A quick decision rule
If it is permanent and load-bearing, zirconia. If it is temporary and must polish, PMMA. If it frames an implant or must not stress the abutment, PEEK.
Pick by indication, then match the blank size and hole pattern to your mill — the complete zirconia line-up, PMMA blanks and PEEK discs are on the product pages.
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