VITA ENAMIC is a modern dental hybrid material that combines the advantages of ceramic and resin in a single material. This results in dental restorations that look natural, are strong, and—thanks to their slight elasticity—feel particularly comfortable and natural when chewing. In addition, more healthy tooth structure can often be preserved, contributing to a gentle and long-lasting restoration.

PICN stands for Polymer-Infiltrated Ceramic Network. This is a class of materials in which a porous ceramic network is infiltrated by a polymer network, resulting in a dual, interconnected structure.

The term “hybrid ceramic” has become established but is vague. It is used to refer to both polymer-infiltrated ceramic networks and ceramic-particle-filled composite blocks, even though these two material classes differ significantly in structure.

In a PICN material such as VITA ENAMIC, the ceramic and polymer form two continuous, interpenetrating networks in a ratio of 86 to 14% by weight. In a composite block, by contrast, the ceramic is embedded as a filler in a polymer matrix and is not continuous. For this reason, we consistently use the term PICN and classify it as a separate material class.

VITA ENAMIC is suitable for a wide range of minimally invasive restorations—including veneers, inlays, onlays, partial crowns, table tops, posterior tooth rebuilds, and crowns in the anterior and posterior regions.

Traditional dental ceramics such as feldspar ceramics, glass ceramics, or lithium disilicate are well-established restorative materials with high aesthetic properties and a strong clinical track record. PICN, however, takes a different approach. The polymer-infiltrated ceramic network of VITA ENAMIC combines ceramic properties with a polymer phase that can absorb functional stresses differently.

A key concept here is the modulus of elasticity. While traditional ceramics are very rigid, PICN—with a modulus of approximately 30 GPa—is significantly less rigid and thus mechanically more similar to natural teeth. This is particularly relevant for biomimetic restoration concepts, in which the restoration should not only be stable but also interact as harmoniously as possible with natural tooth structure. In the context of masticatory forces, stress absorption, and force distribution, this material characteristic can be clinically significant.

PICN also offers practical advantages for CAD/CAM workflows. PICN restorations can be finished and polished directly after milling in many digital processes. There is no need for a firing, sintering, or crystallization process: Restorations made of VITA ENAMIC must not be fired under any circumstances during processing. As a result, PICN is often associated with chairside restorations, same-day dentistry, minimally invasive preparation, and tooth-preserving restorations.

Thanks to the unique PICN network structure, highly stable restorations can be achieved with minimal invasiveness even at wall thicknesses as low as 0.2–0.6 mm. This allows for maximum preservation of natural tooth structure.

Yes, VITA ENAMIC is indicated for anterior and posterior crowns on implants. The hybrid ceramic combines the strength of a ceramic with a certain degree of elasticity thanks to its PICN network. This results in force-absorbing and antagonist-friendly properties. However, clinical suitability always depends on the specific indication and must be assessed in accordance with the respective processing and cementation guidelines.

VITA ENAMIC enables minimally invasive restorations with high efficiency. Thanks to its PICN structure, the elimination of a sintering process, and the minimal material thickness required, the material is particularly well-suited for quick chairside treatments and the maximum preservation of tooth structure. Zirconia, on the other hand, offers greater strength and is frequently used for applications subject to higher loads.

VITA ENAMIC can be processed directly without an additional firing step. This reduces the number of process steps, saves time, and enables efficient restorations—often in just one appointment.

VITA ENAMIC is based on PICN (Polymer-Infiltrated Ceramic Network) technology and was developed for efficient digital CAD/CAM workflows. The material can be machined with precision and enables thin-walled, minimally invasive restoration designs. Since neither a crystallization nor a sintering firing is required after CAM fabrication, restorations can be polished and placed immediately after grinding. This reduces the number of process steps and shortens production time.

The PICN structure also supports efficient CAM machining. Compared to traditional ceramic materials, the material’s inherent elasticity and lower brittleness allow for gentler machining with a reduced risk of edge chipping during the grinding process. Users also report less wear on grinding tools and fewer bur changes, which can offer additional cost-saving benefits in day-to-day laboratory and practice operations.

In addition, the integrated shade and translucency gradients of the MultiColor variants support an efficient aesthetic workflow with reduced customization effort.

After grinding, VITA ENAMIC is either polished directly or customized using light-curing characterization and glaze materials and then polymerized. No additional firing process is required.

VITA ENAMIC is designed for use in standard CAD/CAM systems.

VITA ENAMIC – SYSTEM SOLUTIONS*

VITA offers VITA ENAMIC with specific holder systems for the following CAD/CAM systems:

• CEREC/inLab (Dentsply Sirona)
• PlanMill 40/PlanMill 40S/PlanMill 50S (Planmeca)
• VITA ENAMIC – UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS*
• Arum Dental (5x series)
• CORiTEC Series (imes-icore GmbH)
• Röders RXD Series (Röders GmbH)
• DGSHAPE DWX Series (DGSHAPE Corporation)
• CS 3000/CS3100 (Carestream Dental, Inc.)
• Zfx Inhouse5x (Zfx GmbH)
• Milling UNIT M Series (Zirkonzahn S.r.l.)
• N4/R5/S1/S2/Z4 (vhf camfacture AG)
• Organical Desktop Series (R+K CAD/CAM Technologie GmbH)
• DMG ULTRASONIC Series (DMG Mori AG)
• UP3D (Modelle: P42, P53, P55D) 
• MB Maschinen / orangedental (Modelle: Easymill 4, Easymill 5)
• Dental Machine / Tecno Ganz (Modelle: Vector, Axymat) 
   

*) Notes: The range of variants, geometries, and colors available for VITA CAD/CAM materials may vary depending on the individual CAD/CAM system partner or system. Please contact the respective CAD/CAM system partners for the applicable hardware and software requirements.

“For PICN materials—including VITA ENAMIC, the pioneer and best-known representative of this material class—a recent study reports survival rates of up to 98.4% after 9 years.”

The PICN research visualization refers to the work of Oudkerk et al. (2025) as well as other long-term clinical data. In addition, it describes high aesthetic stability and material properties that are gentle on opposing teeth.