Every great PFM restoration comes down to three powders, applied in the right order, fired to the right result — and CGI built its PFM system so labs can count on that outcome every single time.

A porcelain-fused-to-metal restoration is built on a simple but demanding idea: take a strong metal coping and disguise it completely behind layers of ceramic that look, and behave, like natural tooth structure. That transformation depends entirely on the powders the technician chooses at each stage of the build-up. CGI PFM Ceramic Porcelain Powders — Opaque, Dentine, and Incisal — are formulated specifically for this job, giving labs a dependable, American-made, shade-matched system from coping to incisal edge.

The CGI PFM System: Three Powders, One Shade Language

CGI's PFM line is built around full compatibility across the entire A–D shade range (A0 through D4), so opaque, dentine, and incisal powders reproduce shade consistently whether a lab is finishing a single crown or a full-arch case.

CGI Opaque: The Foundation Layer

CGI Opaque bonds to conventional dental alloys and is designed to be applied in one or two thin, even coats over properly prepared and oxidized copings. It's built to completely block out gray shine-through without adding unnecessary bulk to the restoration, then fires according to a recommended opaque cycle before the dentine build-up begins. Because it's shade-matched to the rest of the CGI PFM system, technicians get consistent A–D shade reproduction that carries cleanly into the next layer.

CGI Dentine: Building the Body of the Tooth

Once the opaque foundation is fired, CGI Dentine establishes the shade, value, and chroma that define the restoration. It's engineered for minimal shrinkage, a stable coefficient of thermal expansion, and reliable behavior through multiple firing cycles — which matters when a case needs a correction fire or a glaze fire after try-in. That stability helps contour, contact points, and shade hold steady from the first bake to the last, across everything from single units to full-arch work.

CGI Incisal: Translucency and Light Dynamics

The incisal third is where a restoration either reads as natural or falls flat, and CGI Incisal powders are built specifically to solve that problem. Applied over the dentine layer, they reproduce the translucency and opalescence of natural enamel, allowing light transmission and internal reflection without turning gray or chalky in thin sections. CGI offers six incisal shades — Extra Light, Light, Medium, Dark, Clear, and Trans — giving technicians the range to sculpt precise incisal edges, mamelons, and halo effects with creamy handling and minimal post-firing adjustment.

Built for Predictable, Repeatable Results

One of the more overlooked sources of chairside remakes is inconsistent handling or an unpredictable firing range from one batch of powder to the next. CGI's PFM line is formulated to behave the same way every time it comes out of the box:

• Full A0–D4 shade matching across opaque and dentine powders
• Consistent firing behavior across opaque, dentine, and incisal stages
• Minimal shrinkage and stable thermal expansion through repeated firings
• Creamy handling for precise incisal sculpting with less post-firing adjustment

Why Domestic Manufacturing Matters for Lab Owners

CGI PFM Ceramic Porcelain is manufactured in the United States under strict quality control. For labs, that translates into more direct access to the manufacturer, greater confidence in production oversight, and less exposure to the delays and unpredictability that can come with long international supply chains. When a case is on deadline, knowing exactly where your materials come from — and being able to reach the people who make them — isn't a small thing.

The Takeaway for Your Lab

A great PFM restoration isn't the result of any single step — it's the sum of opaque coverage, dentine shade-building, and incisal translucency, all fired within one consistent, shade-matched material system. CGI PFM Ceramic Porcelain Powders are designed to give labs that consistency, batch after batch, case after case.