Recent Advances in Ceramics for Dentistry

Abstract

For the last ten years, the application of high-technology processes to dental ceramics allowed for the development of new materials such as heat-pressed, injection-molded, and slip-cast ceramics and glass-ceramics. The purpose of the present paper is to review advances in new materials and processes available for making all-ceramic dental restorations. Concepts on the structure and strengthening mechanisms of dental ceramics are provided. Major developments in materials for all-ceramic restorations are addressed. These advances include improved processing techniques and greater mechanical properties. An overview of the processing techniques available for all-ceramic materials is given, including sintering, casting, machining, slip-casting, and heat-pressing. The most recent ceramic materials are reviewed with respect to their principal crystalline phases, including leucite, alumina, forsterite, zirconia, mica, hydroxyapatite, lithium disilicate, sanidine, and spinel. Finally, a summary of flexural strength data available for all-ceramic materials is included.

Fracture statistics of dental ceramics: Discrimination of strength distributions

“…Crack propagation is not likely to occur across the crystals and is more probable along the glass matrix [41]. If a crack, whenever nucleated, takes a tortuous path through the glass ceramic, more energy will be absorbed in surface production, and fracture toughness can be improved.…”

Influence of the Sintering Type in Ceramics Blocks for Cad-Cam

“…Debido a esto a cada año nuevos materiales y métodos de procesamiento surgen en el mercado odontológico, estimulando el desarrollo de sistemas totalmente cerámicos que permiten la confección de prótesis con mayor resistencia y libres de metal (1)(2)(3). Así es el caso de las cerámicas parcialmente sintetizadas, conformadas por la técnica de compactación, resultando en bloques cerámicos de elevada densidad y homogéneos destinados para la utilización en sistemas computarizados tipo CAD-CAM.…”

Crowns and extra-coronal restorations: Materials selection

“…the glass ceramic, Dicor. Details of the strengthening mechanisms are well described elsewhere 22 but all of them rely on having a crystalline phase dispersed within a glassy matrix.…”

“…Unfortunately, sanidine makes the ceramic very opaque. 22 A newer material, Corning MGC-F is a tougher material with a higher flexural strength. 34 Despite the relatively high strength of the ceramic blank, machining may cause weakening through the introduction of surface flaws.…”