Why Zirconium Dioxide All-Ceramic Material is Currently the Most Respected Dental Materials

With the advancement of life and technology, people's requirements for dental aesthetics and function continue to improve, and while restorative dentistry continues to develop, the types of restorative dentistry materials are also constantly being updated. At present, the commonly used oral restorative materials in the clinic include metal, dental composite resin, zirconia all-ceramic materials and composite materials. Zirconia all-ceramic materials are commonly used in oral restorations due to their good aesthetics, high mechanical strength (hardness, abrasion resistance, compression strength, flexural strength), high stability and permeability, good X-ray projection, etc. Among them, zirconia all-ceramic materials are increasingly favoured by doctors and patients for their excellent aesthetic restorative effects and good biocompatibility.

1.Aesthetic performance 

Due to the traditional nickel-chromium alloy restorations, the inner crown edge will be placed in the patient's gingival sulcus, and can come into contact with saliva, gingival sulcus liquid, very easy to produce corrosion, resulting in gingival staining. In the process of long-term use, the dissolution of traditional cementum leads to secondary caries, which not only affects the aesthetic restoration effect in the anterior tooth area, but also triggers pulp-related inflammation, affecting the service life of the restoration, and in serious cases, leading to fracture of the root of the abutment tooth, causing occlusal force obstacles, resulting in the loss of masticatory function. Zirconium dioxide all-ceramic restorations have ideal light transmittance and good gloss, its colour and translucency is closer to natural teeth, not only can be competent for aesthetic restoration of the anterior teeth area, the posterior teeth and the whole mouth is also very suitable for functional restorative effects. 

2.Excellent biocompatibility

Zirconia all-ceramic material is biologically inert, with minimal adverse reactions, good cell adhesion, excellent tissue reactivity, less inflammatory infiltration and high biocompatibility with the surrounding bone and soft tissue. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that zirconia has no cytotoxic effect on osteoblasts, fibroblasts, etc., and has the ability to modify the extracellular matrix through the synthesis of various essential proteins and structural proteins. Studies have confirmed that there is a causal relationship between plaque build-up on implants and inflammation of the peri-implant mucosa, and that zirconia abutments have a lower surface free energy and surface wettability compared to metals, thus attenuating bacterial adhesion and reducing the risk of peri-implant disease. Zirconia-like ceramics used in bone tissue replacement materials, oral stump core materials, crown and bridge restoration materials, implant materials well solve the discolouration, corrosion, allergies and other problems brought about by metal.

3.High strength and wear resistance

The strength and hardness of zirconium dioxide material is close to or more than natural tooth enamel, which is able to withstand larger chewing force, suitable for posterior tooth restoration and occasions requiring higher occlusal strength. Its wear resistance also ensures that colour change or wear is not easy to occur during long-term use. 

4.The progress of CAD / CAM technology

With the development of digital technology, zirconium dioxide all-ceramic materials can be accurately produced through computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, greatly improving the accuracy and efficiency of the restorations.