Influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and the physical and mechanical properties of dental highly translucent zirconia.

Purpose: Microstructural and physico-mechanical characterization of highly translucent zirconia, prepared by milling technology (CAD-CAM) and repeated firing cycles, was the main aim of this study.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of samples of two commercial highly-translucent yttria-stabilized dental zirconia, VITA YZ-HT (Group A) and Zolid HT + White (Group B), with dimensions according to the ISO 6872 "Dentistry - Ceramic materials", were prepared. The specimens of each group were divided into two subgroups.