Gelcast zirconia ceramics for dental applications combining high strength and high translucency

Tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP) represent a favorite material for monolithic ceramic dental restorations. However, all approaches employed so far to improve the translucency of dental zirconia ceramics are accompanied by a significant decline in strength. In this investigation, we developed dental 3Y-TZP ceramics that can provide excellent strength combined with enhanced translucency. The machinable tetragonal zirconia discs and blocks were prepared from fine mesostructured zirconia particles stabilized with 3 mol% of yttria using the gelcasting method. Zirconia ceramics with an average biaxial strength of 1184 MPa and translucency of 41.1% for a 1 mm thick sample were obtained. Due to its unique microstructure, this tetragonal ceramic provided a favorable combination of high translucency comparable to the high-translucent, tetragonal/cubic 4Y-TZP and very high strength achievable only in the pure tetragonal 3Y-TZP. The applicability and resistance to low-temperature degradation of the new dental ceramics was demonstrated.

Automated summary

In this investigation, dental 3Y-TZP ceramics with excellent strength and enhanced translucency were developed. The applicability and resistance to low-temperature degradation of the new dental ceramics were demonstrated.