TWO OF THE most powerful and under utilized powders in the Creation Porcelain System are products found in the Make Up stain kit: Illusion and Crackliner. Illusion is used to create the appearance of depth in a crown, and Crackliner is used to replicate cracks and craze lines.

Now you see it, now you don't
A common problem that technicians face is insufficient reduction in the incisal one-third of a crown. If there is insufficient room for porcelain application in this area, the opaque layer tends to shine through the dentin and enamel, raising the value of the restoration. Illusion can help this problem by reducing the value and making the crown look translucent.

The technique is simple. First, mix Illusion with Universal Liquid and apply a thin amount at the incisal one-third, the area at the top of the coping and toward the enamel. Use Illusion sparingly. You should see a very, very faint violet/gray hue on the crown after application. If you see a dark violet color, then you've applied too much and the crown will look gray, or worse yet, crack or tear at firing. When used correctly, Illusion will enhance your ability to create perceived depth.

All cracked up
The subtle nuances in a patient's tooth are as individual as a fingerprint. Creation's Crackliner is a great way to simulate one of the most common characteristics in any restoration--a crack.

The technique is not difficult. First, mix Crackliner with the Universal Liquid to a thin consistency. Then build a vertical wall of enamel, perpendicular to the labial surface of the enamel (see photo). It is important that this wall be very wet to prevent the Crackliner from being absorbed by the enamel powder, which would result in a milky stripe after firing.

Using the Make Up brush, saturate the bristles with the Universal Liquid. Using one side of the flattened brush, draw the brush tip through the Crackliner. Be careful not to pick up too much; the smaller the amount used, the more subtle the crack will appear. (If a darker crack is desired, add a little Make Up stain or In Nova to the Crackliner.) After you place the crack, another mass of enamel or translucent should be used to "sandwich" in the Crackliner.

The intensity of the crack can be controlled by the choice of enamels used with the Crackliner. If a faint check line is desired, use a more opacious enamel like S-59 or SI-04. If a more intense crack is desired, then use a more translucent enamel like TI-04 or CL-O.

Mark Anderson, CDT has studied with many world class technicians including Asami Tanaka, Thomas Schmidt, Makoto Yamamoto, and Klaus Mutheries. He has completed courses at the L.D. Pankey Institute and studies each year with internationally acclaimed ceramist Willi Geller. As the current president of Oral Design America, he has conducted seminars throughout North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe and Israel. He is the owner and operator of the Oral Design Center in West Bountiful, Utah.

For more information on Illusion and Crackliner, call Jensen at 800-243-2000.

Revision 0, 3/19/99