Surface Preparation

After sintering, steam-clean the crown thoroughly to remove any contamination. Allow it to cool completely and dry. Avoid touching the zirconia surface with bare hands — use clean gloves. The surface should be slightly sandblasted with Aluminum Oxide at 1.5 bars or in the as-sintered condition for best stain adhesion.

Do not apply any bonding agent before staining — CGI Stain Pastes are designed to adhere directly to the clean ceramic surface prior to glaze firing.

Establish the Base Chroma

Using a soft-bristled brush, apply your primary base shade across the entire body of the crown in a thin, even layer. For most A-shade prescriptions, use Paste A. For B-shades, reach for Paste B.

The CGI formula self-levels as it flows, reducing visible brushstrokes. Work from cervical to incisal in smooth, overlapping strokes. The layer should be thin — almost transparent. Avoid pooling.

Warm the Cervical Zone

The cervical third of a natural tooth has higher chroma and tends toward yellower, warmer hues where dentin shows through thinning enamel. Build this effect using Ocher and/or Yellow, blending them into the cervical margin.

Apply a slightly heavier concentration at the very margin and feather it coronally into the body shade. This gradient is critical for making the crown look like it belongs at the gumline rather than sitting above it.

For darker prescriptions (C or D shades), layer Paste C-D over the Ocher before firing to intensify chroma at the cervical.

Characterize the Fissures & Anatomy

For posterior crowns, anatomical detail is everything. Using a very fine liner brush, trace Brown into the primary and secondary grooves, pits, and fissures. This simulates the organic staining that accumulates in natural tooth anatomy over time.

For a softer effect — especially on younger patients — substitute with  Gray instead of Brown. Gray reads as a more neutral shadow without the strong brown contrast that can look artificial if overdone.

On anterior crowns, use Gray sparingly in the developmental grooves and mamelons to add depth and dimension to the facial surface.

Simulate Incisal Translucency (Anterior Cases)

For anterior zirconia crowns, this step transforms a flat restoration into one that looks alive under light. Apply Blueberry across the incisal third in a very thin, almost washed-out layer. This mimics the cool blue-gray halo visible in natural enamel at the incisal edge — especially in younger patients.

For maximum realism, layer White highlights on the labial surface at the incisal edge and along the mamelon tips. This creates the illusion of light reflecting off the enamel surface and adds the final dimension that separates lifelike work from flat staining.

Use Azure for a deeper or more dramatic translucency effect — ideal for younger patient cases or when the adjacent teeth show strong incisal halo.

Glaze & Fire

Once all stains are applied and fired using the stains firing cycle and you are satisfied with the characterization, apply a thin, even coat of CGI Universal Glaze or CGI Universal Fluorescent Glaze over the entire crown surface. The fluorescent glaze is particularly recommended for anterior restorations — it adds a natural vitality under varying light conditions that standard glaze cannot replicate.

Fire according to your zirconia manufacturer's recommended glazing cycle. CGI products are engineered for consistent color and surface results, so once your firing cycle is dialed in, you can reproduce the same results case after case. For most furnaces, a single firing of 1 minute at the appropriate peak temperature is sufficient.

After cooling, inspect under natural and dental operatory lighting. A second characterization and re-glaze firing can be performed if any adjustments are needed — the materials respond predictably on refiring.