Color- and strength-graded zirconia: Strength, light transmission, and composition.

Statement Of Problem: Natural teeth are graded in terms of translucency and strength. Graded zirconia materials are now available with a higher yttria content on the top or in the enamel zone to increase surface translucency and a lower yttria content on the bottom or in the dentin zone to increase strength. Such materials could provide multiple advantages over uniform materials and reduce the need for porcelain veneering in anterior artificial crowns; however, studies on the properties of these materials are lacking.

A practical, predictable, and reliable method to select shades for direct resin composite restorations.

Objective: This article describes a practical, predictable, and reliable method to select shades for direct composite restorations using custom shade guides made of resin composite at hand using a process of elimination CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Esthetics in direct resin composite restorations depends on the clinician's ability to reproduce the shape and shade of natural teeth, thus appropriate shade selection is a must. This method presented in this article simplifies the process of shade selection for direct resin composite restorations. The use of custom shades tabs made of commecially available resin composites, its arrangment and a process of elimination of tabs during shade selection allows the practitioner to obtain the best possible resin composite shade available for every case.

Influence of yttria content and surface treatment on the strength of translucent zirconia materials.

Statement Of Problem: Newly developed translucent zirconia materials have been used for anterior monolithic complete coverage restorations. Surface treatments can improve adhesion, as well as decrease or increase the strength of ceramics. However, information on the influence of surface treatments on the strength of translucent zirconias is sparse.

Strength and translucency of zirconia after high-speed sintering.

Objectives: To compare the strength and translucency of CAD/CAM zirconia blocks, with traditional and high-speed sintering, to lithium disilicate.

Materials And Methods: Three zirconia materials (Katana STML Block, Prettau Anterior, and Zpex Smile) were tested with either traditional (7 hours) or high-speed (18 or 30 minutes in a SpeedFire furnace) sintering. A lithium disilicate material (IPS e.