Enhancing Dental Ceramic Prostheses with Zirconia Nanocomposites: An In-Vitro Study on Hard Tissue Rehabilitation

Abstract

Researchers and clinicians have directed most efforts towards rehabilitating partially or completely edentulous patients to provide them with functionality and self-esteem. The objective of this work was to create two distinct kinds of nano composites employing two different kinds of polycrystalline zirconia reinforcing materials. First strengthened using sol-gel-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. Secondly, precipitated amorphous silica nanoparticles. To develop the composite material, (3 mol. Y2O3) was mixed with zirconia to stabilize it in the tetragonal phase with homogeneous distribution, The ZnO NPs and SiO2 NPs were then added in varied weight rates. To yield 3 mol.Y2O3-ZrO2-ZnONPs and 3 mol.Y2O3-ZrO2-SiO2NPs nano composites samples of 10 mm diameter, uniaxial pressing was applied in a metal-die cylinder at a pressure of 5 tons. The obtained samples were then sintered in air in an electrically controlled furnace for 2 hrs at a temperature of 1400℃, while the heating and cooling rates were 5℃/min. Density, porosity, and Vickers micro hardness were used to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained samples. XRD and FE-SEM were applied to analyze the produced samples. The results showed that there was an increase in micro hardness recorded for both reinforcement groups after applying zinc oxide NPs and silica NPs. Further improvement in densification can also be emphasized. Our study demonstrates that using nanotechnology to improve clinical performance represents a potential strategy and promising approach to enhance all-ceramic restorations.