Effect of intra-oral aging on t→m phase transformation, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Y-TZP dental ceramics.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of intra-oral aging on the tetragonal-to-monoclinic (t→m) phase transformation of two Y-TZP dental ceramics - Lava Frame (Frame) and Lava Plus (Plus) - and determine the impact of this response on their microstructures and mechanical properties: flexural strength, Young's modulus, microhardness and fracture toughness. Standardized ceramic specimens were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). After the baseline analysis, the specimens were attached to personalized intra-oral resin appliances and exposed to the oral cavity of 20 subjects for 60 days and then analyzed again. Specimens produced for mechanical properties evaluation were also analyzed before and after the 60-day intra-oral aging. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD's post hoc test (α=0.05). Weibull analysis was used to evaluate the strength reliability. Both Y-TZP ceramics suffered t→m phase transformation after 60-day intra-oral aging (Plus=4.7%/Frame=7.7%). SEM and AFM analyses showed dislodgement of ZrO2 grains and a significant increase in roughness after intra-oral aging for both ceramics. Both Y-TZP ceramics suffered a decrease on flexural strength, Young's modulus and fracture toughness after intra-oral aging (p<0.05). Only Plus presented a decrease of microhardness after intra-oral aging (p<0.05). Intra-oral aging for 60 days produced t→m phase transformation, changed the microstructure and decreased the mechanical properties of two Y-TZP dental ceramics.

Characterization of Conventional and High-Translucency Y-TZP Dental Ceramics Submitted to Air Abrasion.

This study evaluated the effect of air-abrasion on t®m phase transformation, roughness, topography and the elemental composition of three Y-TZP (Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) dental ceramics: two conventional (Lava Frame and IPS ZirCad) and one with high-translucency (Lava Plus). Plates obtained from sintered blocks of each ceramic were divided into four groups: AS (as-sintered); 30 (air-abrasion with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles); 50 (air-abrasion with 50 mm Al2O3 particles) and 150 (air-abrasion with 150 mm Al2O3 particles). After the treatments, the plates were submitted to X-ray diffractometry; 3-D profilometry and SEM/EDS. The AS surfaces were composed of Zr and t phases. All treatments produced t®m phase transformation in the ceramics. The diameter of air-abrasion particles influenced the roughness (150>50>30>AS) and the topography. SEM analysis showed that the three treatments produced groove-shaped microretentions on the ceramic surfaces, which increased with the diameter of air-abrasion particles. EDS showed a decrease in Zr content along with the emergence of O and Al elements after air-abrasion. Presence of Si was also detected on the plates air-abraded with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles. It was concluded that irrespective of the type and diameter of the particles, air-abrasion produced t®m phase transformation, increased the roughness and changed the elemental composition of the three Y-TZP dental ceramics. Lava Plus also behaved similarly to the conventional Y-TZP ceramics, indicating that this high translucency ceramic could be more suitable to build monolithic ceramic restorations in the aesthetic restorative dentistry field.

Characterization of Conventional and High-Translucency Y-TZP Dental Ceramics Submitted to Air Abrasion

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of air-abrasion on t®m phase transformation, roughness, topography and the elemental composition of three Y-TZP (Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) dental ceramics: two conventional (Lava Frame and IPS ZirCad) and one with high-translucency (Lava Plus). Plates obtained from sintered blocks of each ceramic were divided into four groups: AS (as-sintered); 30 (air-abrasion with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles); 50 (air-abrasion with 50 mm Al2O3 particles) and 150 (air-abrasion with 150 mm Al2O3 particles). After the treatments, the plates were submitted to X-ray diffractometry; 3-D profilometry and SEM/EDS. The AS surfaces were composed of Zr and t phases. All treatments produced t®m phase transformation in the ceramics. The diameter of air-abrasion particles influenced the roughness (150>50>30>AS) and the topography. SEM analysis showed that the three treatments produced groove-shaped microretentions on the ceramic surfaces, which increased with the diameter of air-abrasion particles. EDS showed a decrease in Zr content along with the emergence of O and Al elements after air-abrasion. Presence of Si was also detected on the plates air-abraded with 30 mm Si-coated Al2O3 particles. It was concluded that irrespective of the type and diameter of the particles, air-abrasion produced t®m phase transformation, increased the roughness and changed the elemental composition of the three Y-TZP dental ceramics. Lava Plus also behaved similarly to the conventional Y-TZP ceramics, indicating that this high translucency ceramic could be more suitable to build monolithic ceramic restorations in the aesthetic restorative dentistry field.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou o efeito da abrasão a ar na transformação de fase t®m, na rugosidade, topografia e composição elementar de três cerâmicas Y-TZP (Zircônia tetragonal policristalina estabilizada por ítrio): duas convencionais (Lava Frame e ZirCad) e uma de alta translucidez (Lava Plus). Placas obtidas de blocos sinterizados de cada cerâmica foram divididos em quatro grupos: AS (pré-sinterizado); 30 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 30 mm cobertas com Si); 50 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 50 mm) e 150 (jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 de 150 mm). Após os tratamentos, as placas foram submetidas à difratometria de Rx, perfilometria 3-D e microscopia eletrônica de varredura com espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de Rx (SEM/EDS). As superfícies pré-sinterizadas apresentaram predominantemente Zr e fase tetragonal. Todos os tratamentos superficiais produziram transformação t®m nas cerâmicas avaliadas. A topografia e a rugosidade foram influenciadas pelo diâmetro das partículas abrasivas (150>50>30>AS). A análise através de SEM mostrou que os três tratamentos produziram fendas retentivas nas superfícies das cerâmicas, por influência do tamanho das partículas. A análise através de EDS mostrou uma diminuição da concentração de Zr, paralela ao surgimento de O e Al, após o jateamento. No grupo tratado com partículas de Al2O3 de 30 mm cobertas com Si foi também observado um aumento de Si após o jateamento. Concluiu-se que, independente do tipo e do diâmetro das partículas, o jateamento produziu transformação t®m, aumentou a rugosidade e alterou a composição elementar das cerâmicas avaliadas. A Lava Plus apresentou comportamento semelhante às cerâmicas convencionais, indicando que esta cerâmica de alta translucidez pode ser mais adequada à confecção de restaurações monolíticas no campo da odontologia estética restauradora.