Emerging ceramic-based materials for dentistry

Abstract

Our goal is to give an overview of a selection of emerging ceramics and issues for dental or biomedical applications, with emphasis on specific challenges associated with full-contour zirconia ceramics, and a brief synopsis on new machinable glass-ceramics and ceramic-based interpenetrating phase composites. Selected fabrication techniques relevant to dental or biomedical applications such as microwave sintering, spark plasma sintering, and additive manufacturing are also reviewed. Where appropriate, the authors have added their opinions and guidance.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; dental ceramics; glass-ceramics; microwave sintering; spark plasma sintering; zirconia.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

© International & American Associations for Dental Research.

Figures

Figure 1.

Scanning electron micrographs showing the effect of sintering temperature on grain size in 3Y-TZP sintered for 2 hr. (A) 1,300°C; (B) 1,350°C; (C) 1,400°C; (D) 1,450°C; (E) 1,500°C; (F) 1,550°C; (G) 1,600°C; and (H) 1,650°C.

Figure 2.

Scanning electron micrographs of as-received machined dental implant abutment surfaces. Extensive microcracking can be seen, as well as some grain refinement within deep machining grooves.

Figure 3.

X-ray diffraction pattern of 3Y-TZP dental implant abutment as-received (blue) and after rough grinding (red).

Figure 4.

Scanning electron micrograph of a 3Y-TZP fractured surface. Arrows indicate evidence of domain reorientation, characteristic of ferroelastic domain switching.

Figure 5.

Scanning electron micrograph showing the microstructure of the lithium silicate glass-ceramic Suprinity (Vita), exhibiting platelet-shaped crystals.

Figure 6.

Mean failure loads for IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and Enamic® (Vita) in sinusoidal loading of adhesively bonded specimens perKelly et al. (2010). Analysis of such data suggests identical clinical performance against bulk fracture by radial cracking.