FABRICATION TECHNIQUES AND MICROSTRUCTURE CLASSIFICATIONS OF ZIRCONIA

Abstract

Zirconia; with several advantages over other ceramic materials, due to the transformation toughening mechanisms, has been recently introduced in prosthetic dentistry for the fabrication of crowns and fixed partial dentures, in combination with CAD/CAM techniques. This review encompasses the specific types of zirconia available in dentistry, together with their properties. The two main processing techniques, soft and hard machining, are assessed in the light of their possible clinical implications and consequences on the long-term performance of zirconia.