Effect of ceramic thickness, grinding, and aging on the mechanical behavior of a polycrystalline zirconia

Abstract Monolithic restorations of Y-TZP have been recommended as a restorative alternative on prosthetic dentistry as it allows a substantial reduction of ceramic thickness, which means a greater preservation of tooth structure. However, the influence of grinding and aging when using a thinner layer of the material is unclear. This investigation aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of ceramic thickness (0.5 mm and 1.0 mm), grinding and aging (low-temperature degradation) on the mechanical behavior and surface characteristics of a full-contour Y-TZP ceramic. Y-TZP disc-shaped specimens (15 mm diameter) were manufactured with both thicknesses and randomly assigned into 4 groups considering the factors 'grinding with diamond bur' and 'aging in autoclave'. Surface topography (roughness, 3D profilometry and SEM), phase transformation, flexural strength and structural reliability (Weibull) analyses were executed. Grinding affected the surface topography, while aging did not promote any effect. An increase in m-phase content was observed after grinding and aging, although different susceptibilities were observed. Regardless of zirconia's thickness, no deleterious effect of grinding or aging on the mechanical properties was observed. Thus, in our testing assembly, reducing the thickness of the Y-TZP ceramic did not alter its response to grinding and low temperature degradation and did not impair its mechanical performance.

Efeito do envelhecimento em baixa temperatura e desgaste no comportamento mecânico de uma cerâmica Y-TZP com duas espessuras diferentes indicada para restauração monolítica / Effects of low-temperature degradation and grinding on the mechanical behavior of a full-contour Y-TZP ceramic with two thicknesses

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do desgaste com broca diamantada, o envelhecimento (degradação em baixa temperatura) e espessura do material cerâmico no comportamento mecânico de uma cerâmica Y-TZP. Para este estudo, 240 espécimes foram fabricados em formato de disco, de acordo com a norma ISO 6872: 2008 para resistência à flexão biaxial de amostras de cerâmica (N = 120, com dimensões de 0,5 mm de espessura x 15 mm de diâmetro; N = 120 com a dimensão 1,0 milímetros de espessura x diâmetro 15 mm). Os espécimes foram divididos aleatoriamente em 8 grupos (n = 30), de acordo com três fatores em estudo: 'desgaste' em 2 níveis (com e sem desgaste com broca diamantada), o envelhecimento em 2 níveis (com e sem envelhecimento) e da espessura da cerâmica também em 2 níveis (0,5 a 1,0 mm). O desgaste foi realizado com uma broca diamantada montada em um motor de baixa rotação associado a um contra- ângulo multiplicador de velocidade (T2 REVOR R170, Sirona, Bensheim, Alemanha), sob constante irrigação de água. O envelhecimento foi simulado em uma autoclave à temperatura de 134 °C, durante um período de 20 horas, sob pressão de 2 bar. Após o desgaste e envelhecimento, análises de rugosidade foram realizadas em rugosímetro e perfilômetro óptico digital; análises topográficas foram feitas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura; e análises de transformação de fase por difração de raios-X. Os dados foram submetidos às análises estatísticas específicas, sendo que os dados de resistência foram submetidos à análise de Weibull. O desgaste promoveu um aumento da rugosidade, enquanto que o envelhecimento em autoclave não afetou estatisticamente a rugosidade da superfície. Além disso, tanto o desgaste quanto o envelhecimento aumentaram a quantidade de fase monoclínica superficial, embora, o desgaste levou a uma diminuição da susceptibilidade do material a uma nova transformação de fase durante o envelhecimento (resultando em maior fase m para a condição controle após envelhecimento em relação a condição desgaste após envelhecimento). Independente da espessura de zircônia, o envelhecimento e o desgaste levaram a um aumento da resistência característica. Dentro dos limites do presente estudo, observou-se que o desgaste e o envelhecimento não promovem efeitos deletérios no comportamento mecânico da cerâmica Y-TZP, para ambas espessuras (0,5 mm e 1,0 mm)(AU)

The goals of this investigation were to evaluate the effects of grinding with diamond bur and aging (low temperature degradation) on the mechanical behavior of a fullcontour Y-TZP ceramic with two thicknesses. Y-TZP shaped-disc specimens (Zirlux FC, Ardent Dental) were manufactured with thickness of 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm (both with 15 mm in diameter). The specimens from every thickness were randomly assigned into 4 groups, according to two factors: 'grinding' on 2 levels (with and without grinding with diamond bur), aging in 2 levels (with and without aging). Grinding was performed with a diamond bur mounted in a slow speed rotation motor associated with a counter-angle speed multiplier hand-piece, under constant watercooling. Low temperature aging was performed in an autoclave at 134°C temperature, for a period of 20h, under 2 bar of pressure. After grinding and aging, roughness analyzes were performed on a surface roughness tester and 3D digital optical profilometer; topographic analysis were made in a scanning electron microscope; phase transformation analysis by X-ray diffraction. Biaxial flexural strength tests were performed in the universal testing machine. Specific statistical analyses were carried out (Weibull analysis for the strength data). Grinding promoted an increase in roughness, while aging in autoclave did not affect statistically the surface roughness. Also, grinding and aging lead to higher values of m-phase content, although, grinding lead to a decrease in the material susceptibility to a new phase transformations during aging (after aging, as-sintered condition resulted in higher m-phase content compared with ground). Independent on the zirconia's thickness, aging in autoclave and grinding led to an increase in characteristic strengths. Within the limits of this study, it was observed that: grinding and low temperature aging in autoclave do not damage the mechanical behavior of the tested Y-TZP ceramic, for both thicknesses (0.5 mm and 1 mm). Despite those conditions led to high m-phase content, a thinner thickness of 0.5 mm presented similar or higher characteristic strength compared with the 1.0 mm thickness both before and after grinding and aging(AU)