Zirconium oxide is a material commonly used in dental prosthetics for making cups of permanent prosthetic restorations. In order to properly prepare the surface of zirconium oxide for prosthetic treatment, it must be veneered with ceramics. The quality of cup-veneered ceramics is dependent on many factors, including the surface free energy (SFE) and transformation of zirconium oxide. The aim of the study was to investigate the type of phase transition and the value of free energy of the surface subjected to machining (wet and dry grinding, polishing). Quantitative and qualitative phase identification measurements showed that mechanical treatment causes transformation of the tetragonal phase into a monoclinic phase in the zirconium oxide surface. Prepared samples were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the phenomenon of transition. Measurements of the wetting angle and the calculated values of the surface free energy (SFE) showed no significant differences between the samples subjected to each treatment

Zirconium oxide is a ceramic most often used in the field of dentistry for permanently cementing the substructures of prosthetic restorations in patients. The surface of zirconium oxide should be prepared properly because in the next stage it must be covered with porcelain. The success of prosthetics treatment depends on various factors, but it has been reported that the transformation of zirconium oxide plays a key role. The purpose of the research was to investigate the effect of abrasive blasting on the transformation of zirconium oxide. The research has shown that this type of surface treatment causes the transformation of the tetragonal phase into a monoclinic one. The samples were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study confirmed the assumption.

The main goal of this paper is to analyze the stress and displacement fields in prosthetic crowns made of zirconium dioxide using the numerical approach of homogenization hypothesis. The simple engineering model is developed and applied in case of vertical forces. The model is a three-dimensional simulation of molars subjected to crushing, mastication, and clenching. Two basic approaches are considered: the single prosthetic crown on a single molar, and the prosthetic bridge on two molars. The distributions of material parameters are determined for the rigid support and the elastic gum structure of the homogenized properties. The crown on a single molar is analyzed in respect of caries, which are represented by weak material parameters. Irrespective of the problem, the maximal stresses are always insignificant compared to the compressive strength for enamel, dentin, periodontium, and zirconium dioxide. In case of caries, the maximal stresses are located at the contact surface caries/crown, whereas the displacement was higher than the same parameter without caries. The stresses inside the prosthetic bridge on two molars were comparable for elastic and rigid support, and located at the same areas. The molar displacement for elastic gum was higher than for the rigid base, and additionally supplemented by the displacement of the supporting structure.

The aim of the research was to find a zirconia treatment method that would reduce or minimize the transformation from the tetragonal phase to the monoclinic phase. Background: Yttria-stabilized zirconia is increasingly chosen for the base of permanent prosthetic restorations. To achieve a good bond between the prosthetic cup and the veneer material, the material must be treated to achieve surface development. This is a mechanical process, during which an unfavorable transformation from the tetragonal into the monoclinic phase takes place, which leads to the weakening of the internal structure of zirconium dioxide, and later damages the prosthetic restoration. Methods: The tested material consisted of cylindrical samples of 3Y-TZP CeramillZi zirconium oxide, which were sintered after cutting out from the block. After sintering, the samples were subjected to the following types of processing: laser structuring, chemical etching and plasma etching. After the surface treatments, the samples were subjected to diffraction tests to determine the phase composition. Next, the wettability was tested to determine the surface free energy. Results: On the basis of the conducted tests, it was noticed that the applied treatments caused a phase transformation from the tetragonal to the monoclinic phase. After the process of chemical etching, the range of the monoclinic phase for the sample was 5%; after plasma etching, it was 8%, and after laser structuring, it was 2%. In addition, post-surface free energy studies have shown that zirconia is wetted better with an apolar than a polar liquid. Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that the transformation was minimized with the treatments we applied; that is why they are called non-invasive methods. According to the literature data, depending on the parameters of the sandblasting process, the percentage of the monoclinic phase in the treated surfaces ranges from 22% to 52%, which confirms the above-mentioned conclusion.