Why Choose CGI Ceramic Materials
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Shade Variety
12 gum shades and 16 characterization stains allow precise color effects — from subtle tinting to deep anatomical characterization of any gingival region.
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Self-Levelling Consistency
Smooth, brushstroke-free application ensures uniform, controlled coverage across all tissue and tooth surfaces — supporting an efficient, repeatable workflow.
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Reliable Performance
Engineered for predictable, high-quality results with minimal adjustment. Every stain is formulated for consistent color output across multiple fire cycles.
Basic aesthetic characterization transforms a clean zirconia or porcelain restoration into something that reads as alive — with tissue that has depth, variation, and the optical complexity of natural gums and teeth. CGI's six core characterization products each target a specific area of the restoration, working together as a system rather than as isolated colors.
This guide covers the purpose of each stain, where it is applied on the restoration, and the complete firing workflow to achieve a natural, durable, chairside-ready result.
12 Gum Shades Available
16 Characterization Stains
USA Proudly Manufactured
The Six Essential CGI Characterization Products
Each of the six CGI stains and glazes in a basic characterization workflow targets a specific anatomical zone. Understanding what each product does — and where it belongs — is the foundation of consistent, natural results.
CGI Stain 01
Cranberry
Gum · High-Chroma Zones
A deeper pink-red used for the most chromatic sections of the gums — the interdental papilla, the free gingival margin, and areas of tissue where blood supply creates a richer, redder appearance. Apply in thin, controlled amounts to avoid oversaturation. Too much Cranberry in a broad area will look artificial under clinical light.
CGI Stain 02
Squash
Gum-to-Tooth Transition · Cervical
An orange undertone designed specifically for the transitional zone where gum tissue meets the cervical of the tooth. In natural dentitions, this junction has a warm, amber quality created by the dentin showing through thin cementum and thin gingival tissue. Squash recreates this effect and prevents the gum-to-tooth boundary from appearing as a hard, artificial line.
CGI Stain 03
Orchid
Root Eminence · Mid-Gum Body
A lighter, cooler pink used to design the root eminence areas — the raised contours over the roots visible in the gum tissue. Orchid is the base tone across much of the mid-gum body where Cranberry would be too intense. It provides the underlying tissue color that reads as healthy, well-vascularized attached gingiva when viewed from a normal conversational distance.
CGI Stain 04
Stain A (B,C or D)
Tooth Body · Chromatic Areas
The base chromatic stain for the tooth surface. Stain A is a warm amber-brown applied to areas of the tooth where natural chroma needs to be enhanced — cervical thirds, areas between teeth, and any region where the underlying dentin color should be visible through the enamel. It prevents a bleached, flat appearance across the tooth body and adds the warm, organic depth characteristic of real teeth.
CGI Stain 05
Blueberry
Incisal Edge · Translucent Tips
Applied at the incisal edges of the teeth to mimic the blue-grey translucency of natural tooth enamel at its thinnest point. Natural incisal edges allow light to pass through, creating a cool, slightly blue or violet glow — particularly visible in younger patients with thick, vital enamel. Blueberry recreates this optical effect and prevents the incisal from appearing opaque, which is the most common reason restorations look artificial under natural light.
CGI Glaze 01
Fluorescent Glaze
Full Restoration · Final Coat
The final product applied to the complete restoration. CGI Fluorescent Glaze provides the high-luster, glasslike surface that makes a restoration read as healthy and vital. The fluorescent component ensures the tooth appears naturally bright under blue-white light sources (such as clinical lighting) — matching the subtle fluorescent glow of natural tooth enamel that patients notice and value. Apply after all staining is complete.
The restoration that looks most real is not the one with the most stain — it is the one where every stain is in exactly the right place, applied with restraint and intention.
CGI Dental Porcelain — Technical Advisory
Application Sequence & Technique
CGI stains are surface characterization materials applied after the final enamel or bisque fire, before the glaze fire. They are low-fusing — designed to melt and fuse at glaze temperatures (approximately 750°C–770°C for zirconia, or per your furnace program for conventional porcelain). The correct application sequence ensures each stain layer bonds cleanly without mudding into adjacent colors.
Brush Technique & Consistency
Use a clean fine-tipped brush (size 0 or 00) for all CGI stain application — ensure tools are free from contaminants. CGI Paste Stains must be mixed thoroughly with a metal-free spatula before each use. When opening a new jar, do not discard any liquid present — mix it completely into the paste first. Dispense stains onto a clean glass slab and add very small amounts of CGI Stain and Glaze Liquid only if needed to reach working consistency. Lightly wet the restoration surface with CGI Stain and Glaze Liquid before application to improve stain flow and adhesion.
Full Arch Characterization & Glaze Workflow — 7 Steps
1
Preparation & Mixing
Thoroughly mix all CGI Stains using a clean, metal-free spatula until a uniform, homogenous consistency is achieved. When opening a new jar, do not discard any liquid present — mix it completely into the paste first. Dispense a small amount of each desired stain onto a clean, flat glass slab. If needed, gradually add very small amounts of CGI Stain and Glaze Liquid to each stain on the glass surface, mixing with a clean brush until the desired working consistency is reached. Lightly wet the surface of the zirconia structure with CGI Stain and Glaze Liquid prior to any stain application.
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First Application — Gum Background (Blush or Orchid)
Using a fine-tipped brush, apply CGI Orchid (or Blush if a lighter gum is requested) stain as the background color to the entire gingival area, ensuring even coverage. Leave a thinner layer on the areas of the root eminence — the raised contours over each root should read slightly lighter than the surrounding tissue to create depth and dimension. This first gum layer establishes the overall tissue tone that all subsequent gum stains build upon.
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First Application — Tooth Characterization
At the same time the first layer of Gum stain is applied, Apply CGI A, B, C, or D stain (matched to the required shade) to characterize the teeth on the cervical third and middle third, and into the incisal-middle third if needed— without going all the way to the incisal edge. Warm up the necks of the teeth as needed using CGI Squash (or Ocher) stain at the cervical area to add warmth and depth at the gum-to-tooth junction. Using a separate fine-tipped brush, apply CGI Blueberry on the proximal angles and incisal area of the anterior teeth to mimic the translucency of natural tooth enamel.
4
First Bake — Stain Fire
Fire the stained restoration according to the specific firing parameters for your furnace. Ensure the furnace is properly calibrated and the correct program is selected. No vacuum is used for this cycle. Allow full bench cooling before proceeding to the next step.
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Second Application — Gum Stains & Tooth Glaze
After the first bake has fully cooled, apply CrystalCeram® Fluorescent Glaze evenly over the entire tooth surface only, ensuring consistent and appropriate thickness for a natural-looking finish. Do not apply glaze to the gingival area — CGI Gum Stains are self-glazing and require no additional glaze coat. Next, apply CGI Cranberry stain into the interproximal areas where the papilla joins the teeth, and over the depressions between the root eminences to warm up the gingiva. Create the effect of a lighter root eminence by allowing the background Orchid color and the zirconia substrate to show through — do not re-coat the eminence with a second layer.
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Second Bake — Glaze Fire
Fire the restoration using the specific firing program recommended for CrystalCeram® Glaze. No vacuum is used for this cycle. Allow the full bench cool before handling — do not quench. This longer cooling time is important for full arch restorations which retain more heat than single units.
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Final Polish & Assessment
After the glazing process is complete and the restoration has fully bench cooled, a final shine can be achieved using a rubber pink polishing wheel over the gum area . A sheen-like finish should be accomplished — slightly less reflective than a full glaze — is the target result. Evaluate the finished restoration under natural daylight and clinical lighting. The gingival tissue should read with depth and variation; the tooth surfaces should show natural gloss with visible incisal translucency. Document shade, stain combinations, and firing cycles used for future reference and matched restorations.
Common Characterization Errors & How to Avoid Them
Too Much Stain Everywhere
The most common mistake in basic characterization is applying stains too heavily or too broadly. Stains should accent, not cover. If the characterization is visible in your hand under lab lighting, it will be overwhelming under clinic lights. Apply less than you think is necessary — evaluate after each step from arm's length.
Hard Boundaries Between Colours
Every stain border should be feathered and blended into adjacent areas. Hard lines between Orchid and Cranberry, or between Squash and Stain A, will fire as visible demarcation lines. Always transition gradually — spend as much time blending as you do applying.
Skipping Blueberry on Anteriors
Blueberry is the single most impactful stain for making anterior restorations look natural. Without incisal translucency, teeth read as opaque and artificial under natural light. Even a very thin line of Blueberry at the incisal edge transforms the perceived depth of the restoration.
Evaluate under multiple light sources before firing — look at the stained restoration under cool white LED, warm incandescent, and natural window light. If the characterization looks wrong under any one of these, it will look wrong clinically.
Stain A and Squash are your most-used stains in a basic workflow. Cranberry and Blueberry are accent colors — used sparingly for maximum impact. If you are using equal quantities of all stains, the balance is likely off.
Photograph before firing. Once a restoration goes into the furnace, you cannot un-fire it. A photograph taken immediately before the glaze fire gives you a permanent reference for future cases and allows you to see the balance of characterization objectively.
Store CGI stains sealed and away from UV light. Stain powder that has been exposed to sunlight or UV will shift color before and after firing. Keep lids closed tightly between uses and store in a drawer or cabinet — not on an open shelf.
If gum surface looks overglazed, a single pass with a soft rubber polishing point at low RPM will reduce the sheen to a tissue-accurate satin without removing the stain layer. Polish with the lightest possible pressure.
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