Effect of accelerated aging on dental zirconia-based materials.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aging on phase transformation and mechanical properties of yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP).

Materials And Methods: Fully-sintered Y-TZP slabs, IPS E-max ZirCAD (ZC - Ivoclar) and Z-5 ceramic (Z5 - C5 Medical Werks), were artificially aged in autoclave for: 0, 30, 60 or 90min. Flexural strength (FS), crystalline changes (X-ray diffraction analysis - XRD) and surface topography were analyzed.