Global Differences in Dental Zirconia Block & Disc Names – Russia, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Korea, USA, UK (2026 Update)

Dental zirconia (ZrO₂) has become the gold-standard material for CAD/CAM restorations worldwide due to its exceptional strength (900–1200 MPa), biocompatibility, and natural aesthetics. As global trade in dental materials continues to grow rapidly in 2026, understanding regional terminology differences for the same zirconia blanks is critical for laboratories, clinicians, and suppliers to avoid confusion during procurement, milling, and communication.

The pre-sintered blanks used in dental CAD/CAM systems are universally the same material, yet they are called different names depending on language, shape (square block vs round disc), and local market conventions. This comprehensive guide details exactly how these materials are referred to in major markets: Russia, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Why Terminology Varies Globally

1. Language translation and transliteration differences
2. Shape distinction – “block” usually means smaller rectangular blanks for chairside systems (e.g., 40×19×15 mm); “disc/disk” means larger round pucks (98–100 mm diameter) for lab systems
3. Local market preferences and search habits – suppliers optimize product titles for regional search engines
4. Historical naming conventions from early adopters in each market

Russia – циркониевый блок / блок диоксида циркония

In the Russian dental market, the material is most commonly called:

• циркониевый блок (tsirkonievyy blok) – direct translation of “zirconia block”
• блок диоксида циркония (blok dioksida tsirkoniya) – “zirconium dioxide block” (most technically accurate)
• диск диоксида циркония (disk dioksida tsirkoniya) – for round 98–100 mm format

Russian laboratories and suppliers predominantly use the full chemical name “диоксид циркония” in technical specifications, while “циркониевый блок” dominates e-commerce and daily communication. Multilayer versions are typically described as “многослойный циркониевый блок” or “ML цирконий”. When searching on Russian platforms (Yandex, Wildberries, dental supplier sites), using “циркониевый блок 98мм” or “диоксид циркония диск” yields the best results.

Spain & Spanish-Speaking Markets – bloque de zirconio dental

Spanish-language markets (Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) uniformly use:

• bloque de zirconio dental or bloque de circonio dental (both accepted; “circonio” is the traditional Spanish term for zirconium)
• disco de zirconio or disco de circonio for round 98–100 mm discs
• bloque de zirconia multicapa for multilayer versions

The term “zirconio” remains dominant over “zirconia” in professional and commercial contexts throughout Spain and Latin America. On Spanish dental supplier sites and marketplaces, the highest search volume terms are “bloque zirconio CAD/CAM”, “disco circonio 98mm”, and “bloques de zirconio precintados”. Laboratories in Spain frequently list products as “bloques de óxido de circonio” in technical documentation.

Brazil – bloco de zircônia odontológico

Brazilian Portuguese terminology is very consistent:

• bloco de zircônia odontológico or simply bloco de zircônia (most common)
• disco de zircônia for round discs (98 mm is by far the most popular size)
• zircônia multilayer or 3D/4D/6D pro for gradient versions

Brazil has one of the fastest-growing CAD/CAM markets in Latin America, and “disco de zircônia 98mm” is the top search term on Mercado Livre and dental supplier platforms. Suppliers optimize heavily for “bloco zircônia HT”, “disco zircônia ST multilayer”, and “zircônia 3D Pro”. The spelling is always “zircônia” with the circumflex accent.

Japan – ジルコニアブロック / ジルコニアディスク

Japan uses direct katakana transliteration:

• ジルコニアブロック (jirukonia burokku) – for rectangular or small chairside blocks
• ジルコニアディスク (jirukonia disuku) – overwhelmingly dominant for 98–100 mm round discs
• 歯科用ジルコニアディスク – full technical term

The Japanese market is extremely precise with specifications. Search volume is highest for “ジルコニアディスク 98mm”, “マルチレイヤージルコニア” (multilayer zirconia), and “高透光性ジルコニア” (high-translucency zirconia). Domestic classification often includes strength/translucency grades (e.g., HT, ST, UT).

Korea – 지르코니아 블록 / 지르코니아 디스크

Korean terminology mirrors Japan very closely:

• 지르코니아 블록 (jireukonia beullok) – block
• 지르코니아 디스크 (jireukonia diseukeu) – disc (98 mm most common)
• 치과용 지르코니아 디스크 – full term

Korean dental laboratories and suppliers use “지르코니아 디스크 98mm multilayer” as the primary search term. Popular descriptors include “3D Pro 멀티레이어 지르코니아”, “고강도 지르코니아” (high-strength), and “프리미엄 지르코니아 블록”.

United States & United Kingdom – dental zirconia block / zirconia disc / puck / blank

English-speaking markets have the most varied terminology:

• Dental Zirconia Block – standard for smaller rectangular blanks (especially chairside/CEREC-size)
• Zirconia Disc or Zirconia Disk – common for 98–100 mm round format
• Zirconia Puck – widely used industry term for thick round discs (particularly in the USA)
• Zirconia Blank – generic technical term used in milling software and specifications

Additional common variations in 2026:

• Multilayer Zirconia Disc / Pre-shaded Zirconia Block
• HT Zirconia (high-translucency), ST Zirconia (super-translucent), UT/5Y Zirconia (ultra-translucent)

In the USA and UK, “98mm zirconia disc” and “zirconia puck multilayer” dominate Google and supplier searches. The term “puck” is especially prevalent in North American laboratory jargon.

Quick Comparison Table (2026)

Region	Block (rectangular)	Disc (98–100 mm round)	Most Common Search Term
Russia	циркониевый блок	диск диоксида циркония	циркониевый блок 98мм
Spain	bloque de zirconio dental	disco de zirconio	bloque zirconio 98mm
Brazil	bloco de zircônia	disco de zircônia	disco de zircônia 98mm multilayer
Japan	ジルコニアブロック	ジルコニアディスク	ジルコニアディスク 98mm
Korea	지르코니아 블록	지르코니아 디스크	지르코니아 디스크 98mm
USA/UK	Dental Zirconia Block / Blank	Zirconia Disc / Puck	98mm zirconia disc multilayer

Implications for International Procurement & SEO in 2026

Dental laboratories ordering globally must use the correct regional term to avoid receiving wrong sizes or types. A “block” in the USA might be 40×19×15 mm, while the same supplier listing a “disco de zircônia” in Brazil will be 98×20 mm.

For suppliers and digital marketers:

• Title products with exact local terms to rank in regional searches
• Use both “zirconia” and local spelling (zircônia, zirconio, цирконий) in meta tags
• Include system compatibility (Open System 98mm, Zirkonzahn, Amann Girrbach, etc.) in listings

Understanding these precise regional naming differences eliminates confusion, reduces returns, and improves global supply chain efficiency in the rapidly expanding dental zirconia market.

This guide is accurate as of January 2026 and reflects real commercial terminology used by laboratories and suppliers worldwide.