SRI GURU RAM DASS INSTITUTE OF

DENTAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH, SRI

AMRITSAR
DEPARTMENT OF PROSTHODONTICS AND CROWN AND
BRIDGE

SEMINAR ON DENTAL CERAMICS

DATED:24-10-2018
PRESENTED BY:
 INTRODUCTION
■ The term ‘ceramics’ is derived from the greek word ‘keramos’
meaning burnt stuff.
■ This material is opaque, relatively weak and porous
■ It consisted mainly of kaolin.
■ The blending of this with other minerals such as silica and
feldspar produce the translucency and extra strength required
for dental restorations. This was given the name ‘porcelain’.
■ Ceramic is defined as “ An inorganic compound with
nonmetallic properties typically consisting of oxygen and one or
more metallic or semimetallic elements (e.g. aluminum ,
calcium , lithium , magnesium , potassium , silicon , tin ,
titanium , and zirconium ) that is formulated to produce the
whole or part of a ceramic –based dental prosthesis.”
 HISTORY OF DENTAL CERAMICS
■ Ceramics are not considered new materials as
they were in use more than 10,000 years ago
during the Stone Age.
■ In 1723, Pierre Fauchard described the enameling
of metal denture bases.
■ De Chemant, a French dentist, introduced the
first porcelain denture tooth in 1789 .
■ In 1808, in Paris, Fonzi introduced “tetro-metallic
incorruptibles” which are porcelain teeth with
embedded platinum pins. The first ceramic crown
was introduced in 1903 by Dr. Charles Land
 USES AND APPLICATIONS
■ Inlays and onlays
■ Esthetic laminates
■ Single crowns
■ Short span bridges
■ Artificial denture teeth
■ Ceramic orthodontic brackets
■ Ceramic posts
■ Implant abutments
 CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL PORCELAINS
1) Acc to firing temperature
 High fusing- 1300,for denture teeth
 Medium fusing- 1101-1300, for denture teeth
 Low fusing- 850-1100, for crown and bridge use
 Ultra low fusing- <850, used with titanium
2) Acc to type:
 Feldspathic/ conventional
 Aluminous porcelain
 Leucite reinforced
 Glass infiltrated alumina
 Glass infiltrated spinell
 Glass ceramic
3) Acc to use
 For denture teeth
 Jacket crown, veneer, and inlay porcelain
 Metal ceramics
 Anterior bridge porcelain

4)Acc to processing method

 Sintered porcelain
 Cast porcelain
 Machined porcelain
■ 5) According to composition
■ Pure alumina
■ Pure zirconia
■ Silica glass
■ Leucite based glass
■ Lithia based glass
■ 6)According to Microstructure
■ Glass
■ Crystalline
■ Crystal containing glass
■ 7) According to translucency
■ Opaque
■ Translucent
■ Transparent
■ 8)Fracture
■ 9)Abrasiveness
 BASIC CONSTITUENTS
COMPOSITION PERCENTAGE USE

Feldspar 60-70% Basic glass former

quartz 15-25% filler

oxide 9-15% fluxes

alumina 8-20% Glass former and

fluxes
Metallic pigments 1% Color matching

Kaloin 3-5% binder

■ Other specialized porcelain powders:
■ Glazes- applied to completed ceramic restorations and gives a glossy
life like finish.
■ Stains- to produce individual color variation in the finishes restoration.
Various metallic oxides are used such as titatnium oxide(yellowish
brown color), nickel oxide(brown), copper oxide(green).
■ Opaquer porcelain- used to conceal metal core in Porcelain fused to
matal restorations.
■ Reinforced core porcelains- stronger than regular feldspathic
porcelains. Creates strong inner core. Reinforcing materials may be:
■ Alumina (alumina reinforced porcelain)
■ MgAl2O4(spinell)
■ Leucite(leucite reinforced porcelain)
 GENERAL PROPERTIES OF CERAMICS
 Biological properties:
 These are inert materials with excellent biocompatibility.
 Chemical properties:
 As ceramics are inert obtaining adhesion to them is difficult,
ceramic restorations are roughened by etching with hydrofluoric
acid / by sand blasting to improve the retention of a cement to the
internal surface of the restorations.
 Mechanical properties:
 Low tensile strength
 Exhibits little amount of plastic deformation
 Impact resistance is low
 They have a good compressive strength. The susceptibility to brittle
fracture is a drawback particularly when flow and tensile stress co
exist in the same region of the restoration.
 Optical properties:
 Excellent optical properties
 Dental porcelains are translucent and can be colored by pigments
such as metallic oxides to match the shade of teeth. Presence of
crystalline inclusions have a marked opacifying effect.
 Thermal properties:
 These are insulating materials
 ADVANTAGES OF PORCELAIN
■ High abrasion resistance
■ Chemical inertness
■ Excellent thermal and electrical insulators
■ Excellent esthetic qualities
■ Translucency
■ Color stability
■ Capacity of pigmentation
■ Stain resistance
■ Enhanced polishability
■ High durable
 DISADVANTAGE OF PORCELAIN
■ Highly brittle
■ Excessive wear of opposing teeth
■ High firing shrinkage
 METHODS OF STRENGTHENING PORCELAIN
 The principal deficiencies faced by ceramics are -
brittleness, low fracture toughness and low tensile
strength.
 Methods used to overcome the deficiencies fall into 2
general categories:

 1. Method of strengthening brittle materials.

 2. Method of designing components to minimize the
stress concentrations and tensile stresses.
 Method of strengthening materials: strengthening of
the brittle materials can be done in 2 ways:
1.Development of residual compressive stresses within
the surface of the material.

2. Interruption of crack propagation through the material.

 Development of residual compressive stresses within

the surface of the material:

 One of the widely used method of strengthening

ceramics.
 The methods used in achieving this objective are:
 1) ION EXCHANGE MECHANISM:

 This technique is called as chemical tempering and is

the most sophisticated and effective way of introducing
residual compressive stresses. In this procedure a
sodium containing glass is placed in a bath of molten
potassium nitrate, potassium ions in the bath exchange
places with some of the sodium ions in the surface of
the glass particle. The potassium ion is about 35% larger
than the sodium ion.
2) THERMAL TEMPERING:
 This is the most common method of strengthening glass.
This creates residual surface compressive stresses by
rapidly cooling (quenching) the surface of the object while it
is hot and in the softened state.
 This rapid cooling produces a skin of rigid glass surrounding
a soft molten core. As the molten core solidifies, it tends to
shrink, but the outer skin remains rigid.
 The pull of the solidifying molten core as it shrinks, creates
residual tensile stresses in the core and residual
compressive stresses within the outer surface.
 For dental applications it is more effective to quench the
glass phase ceramics in silicone oil. Or other special liquids
than using air as it may not uniformly cool the surface.
 DISRUPTION OF CRACK
PROPAGATION

This can be categorized into 3 types:

1. Crack tip interactions
2. Crack tip shielding
3. Crack bridging
 CRACK TIP INTERACTIONS:

 These occur when obstacles in the microstructure act to

improve crack motion.
 These obstacles are generally second phase particles
and act to deflect the crack out of the crack plane.
 When the crack is deflected out of plane the crack is no
longer subjected to pure tensile stresses and will involve
some shear displacement; thus increasing the difficulty
of crack propagation.
 CRACK TIP SHIELDING:

 a. Transformation toughening- with Partially stabilized

zirconia
 b. Microcrack toughening
 are the 2 mechanisms that lead to crack tip shielding.

 This is most often associated with the presence of

zirconia. Under unrestrained conditions zirconia
undergoes a high to low temperature phase
transformation which involves a 3% to 5% volume
increase.
 CRACK TIP BRIDGING:

 This it the third strengthening mechanism that has been

proposed. It occurs when a second phase acts as a
ligament to make it more difficult for the crack faces to
open. This is better understood by bonded fiber
composites.
 The fibers act as ligaments which make it more difficult
to open the crack at an applied stress.
 Methods of designing components to
minimize stress concentrations and tensile
stresses
 The design should avoid exposure of ceramics to high tensile
stresses. It should also avoid stress concentration at sharp
angles or marked changes in thickness.
 Reducing stress raisers;
 Stress raisers are discontinuities in ceramic structures that
cause stress concentration. The design of ceramic dental
restoration should also avoid stress raisers.
 Abrupt changes in shape/ thickness in the ceramic contour
can act as stress raisers and make the restoration more prone
to failure.
 Notches caused in the porcelain due to the folds of the underlying
platinum foil substrate.
 Sharp line angle in the preparation, large changes in the thickness
of porcelain are factors creating areas of stress cone. Usually
contact points should be avoided and contact areas should be
preferred to avoid localized stress areas.
 Supporting the porcelain of a metal foundation
 The various alloys that can be used are
 High noble.
 - Gold platinum palladium
 - Gold palladium silver
 - Gold palladium

 Have noble metal content greater than 60% with at least 40% gold.
 Noble:
 - Palladium silver
 -High palladium

 They have less than 25% noble metal content.

 Base metals:

 - Nickel chromium
 - Cobalt beryllium
 BONDING MECHANISMS
 Four mechanism have been described to explain the bond
between the ceramic veneer and the metal substructure.

1. Mechanical entrapment
2. Compressive forces
3. Van der waals forces
4. Chemical bonding
 Mechanical entrapment:
 This creates attachment by interlocking the ceramic into the
microabrasions on the surface of the metal coping which are
created by finishing the metal with non contaminating stones / discs
and are abrasives.
 Air abrasion appears to enhance the wettability, provide mechanical
interlocking
 The use of a bonding agent having platinum spheres 3-6 μm in
diameter can also increase the bond significantly.

 Compressive forces:
 These are developed by a properly designed coping and a slightly
higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the porcelain veneered
over it. This slight difference will cause the porcelain to draw
towards the metal coping when the restoration cools after firing.
 Vander waals forces
 It is an affinity based on a mutual attraction of charged molecules.
They are minor force for bonding.

 Chemical bonding
 It is indicated by the formation of an oxide layer on the metal. The
trace elements like tin, indium, gallium/iron form oxides and bond to
similar oxides in the opaque layer of the porcelain.
 Bonding of porcelain to metal using electrodeposition:
 A layer of pure gold is deposited onto the cast metal,
followed by a short flashing deposition of tin. This
method has been successfully used for metals and
alloys such as cobalt, chromium, stainless steel,
palladium silver, high and low gold content alloys and
titanium.
 PORCELAIN FIRING
 Low Bisque:
 The surface of the porcelain is very porous and will easily
absorb a water soluble die. At this stage the grains of porcelain
will have started to soften. Shrinkage will be minimal and the
fired body is extremely weak and friable. Lack translucency
and glaze.
 Medium bisque
 The surface will still be slightly porous but the flow of the glass
grains will have increased. A definite shrinkage will have taken
place. Lacks translucency and high glaze.
 High bisque:
 The surface of the porcelain would be completely sealed and
presents a much smoother surface with a slight shine.
shrinkage is complete. Appears glazed.
 Glazing
 Porcelains are glazed to give a smooth and glossy surface, enhance,
esthetics and promote hygiene.
 The glazing should be done only on a slightly roughened surface and
never should be applied on glazed surfaces.
 1. Over glaze
 2. Self glaze
 Over glaze:
 These are ceramic powders containing more amount of glass
modifiers thus lowering fusion temperature. It may be applied to
porcelain and then fired.
 Self glaze:
 All the constituents on the surface are melted to form a molten
mass about 25 μm thick. Thus the porcelain is said to be self glazed.
 METAL CERAMIC RESTORATIONS
 Made possible by
 Ceramic and alloys that form strong bond
 Ceramics and alloys with matching coefficient of thermal
expansion
 Low fusing ceramic materials
 Alloys that resist deformation at ceramic fusing temperature
ADVANTAGES

■ Properly made crown is stronger and more durable than all ceramic
crowns which are brittle in nature
■ No wear unlike similar acrylic resin veneered structures
■ Less tooth structure is removed compared to All Ceramic
 DISADVANTAGES
■ Less esthetic compared to All Ceramic and metal collar
display
■ More tooth structures will be removed compared to all
metal restorations
■ Porcelain is prone to chip
■ Lengthy lab procedures
■ Costlier than composite resin restorations
 CERAMIC MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS
Core material System Man. Tech.
GLASS CERAMIC
LITHIUM-DISILICATE IPS EMPRESS2 and e.max Press Heat Pressed
LEUCITE IPS EMPRESS, OPTECH HSP Heat Pressed
IPS ProCAD Milled
ALUMINA
ALUMINUM OXIDE IN-CERAM ALUMINA Slip cast, Milled
INCERUM SPINELL Milled
SYNTHOCERAM Milled
IN CERUM ZIRCONIA,PROCERA Densely sintered
ZIRCONIA
Yttrium tetragonal LAVA Milled, Sintered
Zirconia polycrystals CERCON Milled, Sintered
DC-ZIRKON Milled
DENZIR Densely
 EMPRESS
■ Heat pressed injection molded

■ It utilizes lost wax technique

■ Leucite reinfoced glass

ceramic - pressed into
the mold at high temperature
 ADVANTAGES
 Lack of metal
 Translucent ceramic core
 High flexural strength
 Excellent fit
 Excellent esthetics
DISADVANTAGES
 Potential for fracture if used in posterior region

 Special laboratory equipment

 TYPES:
 IPS Empress -- Leucite re-enforced

 IPS Empress 2 -- Lithium disilicate re-enforced

 CASTABLE GLASS CERAMIC

■ Dicor(mica based) and

Cerapearl(hydroxyapatite based)

■ Lost wax technique

■ Good aesthetics
due to “CHAMELEON EFFECT”
 IN-CERAM
 Slip cast technique is utilized here
 In-ceram is supplied as one of the three core materials

 (1)In-ceram Spinell
 (2) In-ceram Alumina
 (3)In-ceram Zirconia
 ADVANTAGES
 Lack of metal
 Relative high flexural strength and toughness except In-Ceram
spinell
 Excellent fit
 DISADVANTAGES
 Opacity of core except In-Ceram Spinell which is more translucent but
have lower flexural strength
 Unsuitability for conventional acid etching
 Need for special equipment
 PROCERA
 Densely sintered, high purity, alumina core
 Ceramic core is milled using CAD CAM system
and sintered
 High strength, Durable, Metal free, Aesthetic
tooth colored restorations.
 Zirconia based ceramics
■ Zirconia is a polymorphic material

■ Yttrium oxide is added to it to control volume expansion and to

stabilize it in tetragonal phase at room temperature.

■ Partially stabilized zirconia has high initial flexural strength and

fracture toughness
 COPY MILLING
 Added value improves profitability, since all the work stages can
be performed in-clinic
 Precise high-quality results within a single day
 Space-saving Compact dimensions and simple operation increase
efficiency without occupying unnecessary space
 Cost effective
 CAD/CAM SYSTEM
 Computer aided designing and computer aided
manufacturing
 The use of CAD/CAM technology in dentistry is increasing,
both in the dental laboratory and general practice
settings, to fabricate all-ceramic inlays, on lays, crowns,
and veneers
 CAD/CAM system currently available for in-office chair
side use,CEREC® 3D.
 ADVANTAGES
 Single appointment procedure
 No temporaries
 No impression required

 DISADVANTAGES
 Less conservative than direct filling composites
 Slightly less exacting fit than lab made restoration
 TISSUE TINTED PORCELAIN
 Used to restore soft tissue defects
 Proper shade matching can be done using tissue tinted
shade guide
 CERAMIC IMPLANT ABUTMENT
 Zirconium oxide abutments:
 Excellent esthetics
 Very high flexural strength - 3 times that of densely sintered pure
aluminum oxide
 Other mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity are
superior when compared to aluminum oxide
 The prosthetic restoration can be cemented definitively onto the
abutment using a gold screw
 Easy to radiograph because of it’s radioopacity for correct
abutment positioning on implant.
 Ceramic posts
 Zirconia posts are radio opaque, biocompatible, transmits light
and has good mechanical properties.
 finds major application for restoring anterior teeth where
esthetics is of prime concern.
 SUMMARY
■ Ceramics have given us various options in restorative
treatment such as crowns, laminates, inlays, onlays, post,
abutments etc., with lot of reliability. Dental ceramics are
reliable coz, of their biocompatibility, long term color
stability, wear resistance and their ability to be formed in
precise shapes. Ceramic restorations are revolutionizing
dentistry since past 2 decades & in days to come still
better versions of ceramic are anticipated.
 References

■ Philips science of dental materials 10th and 11th edition

■ Recent advances in restorative dental ceramics: JADA 1993;124:72
■ A new method : CAD-CAM system: JADA 1989;118:703
■ Procera All ceramic crowns: BDJ 1999;186:430
■ Restorative dental materials - R G Craig