What is Zirconia?

One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the use of zirconia for dental implants and restorations. This page will explore what zirconia is, how it's produced, and the remarkable benefits it offers for our patients.

What is Zirconia?

Zirconia, technically known as “zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)”, is a white crystalline oxide of the metal zirconium. In its cubic crystalline form, it exhibits nearly complete light transmission, making it an ideal material for dental applications where aesthetics are paramount.

Zirconia has several unique properties that make it well-suited for use in dentistry:

High strength and fracture toughness
Excellent biocompatibility with human tissue
Low plaque affinity and superior soft tissue response
Resistance to corrosion and wear
Ability to be colour-matched to natural teeth

The specific type of zirconia used in dentistry is partially stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP). The addition of small amounts of yttrium oxide to the zirconia helps stabilise the tetragonal phase at room temperature, enhancing its mechanical properties.

Photo of our Zirconia Dental Implants in our belfast lab

The Manufacturing Process

The production of zirconia for dental use involves several high-tech steps:

‍Powder production: Zirconia powder is combined with stabilising oxides like yttrium oxide. The mixture is spray dried and the resulting granules are compacted.

‍Shaping: The compacted zirconia undergoes cold isostatic pressing to achieve a homogeneous green density. It is then shaped into blocks or discs suitable for milling.

‍Sintering: The shaped zirconia is heated to temperatures between 1400-1500°C, triggering a process called sintering. During sintering, the compressed zirconia powder coalesces into a dense, single mass.

‍Hot isostatic pressing (HIP): Some manufacturers apply additional HIP after sintering. HIP involves applying high pressure at elevated temperatures to further increase the density and eliminate any residual porosity.

‍Milling: The sintered zirconia blocks are milled using CAD/CAM technology to create the final dental restorations, customized for each patient.

At our in-house dental lab in Belfast, we use advanced digital milling machines to precisely craft your zirconia restorations from high-quality zirconia blanks. This allows us to achieve optimal fit, function and aesthetics.

Generations of Dental Zirconia

Zirconia has evolved over the years, with each new generation offering enhanced translucency, strength and optical properties. Currently, there are three main generations:

1st Generation (3Y-TZP): High strength but limited translucency. Suitable for posterior restorations.
2nd Generation (5Y-TZP): Improved translucency with slightly reduced strength. Used for anterior and posterior restorations.
3rd Generation (5Y-TZP and 4Y-TZP): High translucency with excellent mechanical properties. Can be used for monolithic full-arch restorations.

At New Life Teeth, we use the latest generation of high translucent zirconia for our full mouth restorations. This allows us to create implant bridges that beautifully mimic the appearance of natural teeth while providing unparalleled strength and durability.

Benefits of Zirconia

Strength and Durability: Zirconia has a flexural strength of 1000-1200 MPa, making it one of the strongest dental materials available. This high strength allows zirconia bridges to withstand the substantial biting forces generated in the posterior region.
Chip Resistance: Zirconia is highly resistant to chipping and fractures under normal functional forces. In the rare event of damage, zirconia bridges can often be repaired intraorally.
Biocompatibility: Zirconia is a bioinert material, meaning it does not trigger any adverse immune response or allergic reactions. Its biocompatibility has been extensively documented.
Aesthetics: With its excellent light transmission and colour-matching abilities, zirconia closely mimics the appearance of natural teeth. It can be layered or cut-back for a highly aesthetic result.
Easy Maintenance: The dense, non-porous structure of zirconia resists plaque and bacterial accumulation, making it easy for patients to maintain good oral hygiene around their implant restorations.

Close up of our Zirconia Teeth Forever bridge which is used in a Full Jaw Dental Implant treatment

Our Prettau® Zirconia Teeth Forever Bridge

We are proud to offer our patients the Prettau® Zirconia Implant Bridge - an innovative full arch restoration milled from a single solid piece of zirconia. Pioneered by Zirkonzahn, this monolithic bridge offers unparalleled strength, durability and aesthetics.

Precision milled from high translucent, multilayer zirconia blanks for a stunning natural appearance
Can withstand bite forces over 1200 Newtons - 4 times the average biting force
Resistant to chipping, fractures and staining, ensuring your new smile stays beautiful for years
Backed by our industry leading 15-year mechanical warranty

To learn more about how our zirconia compares directly to other solutions you can browse our Zirconia vs PMMA information or contact us today. Our team is ready to answer all your questions and help you take the first step towards the smile of your dreams.

Approachable, experienced professionals at your service!

Combining years of expertise and high-end technology to provide the most advanced and restorative dentistry treatments available, discover a new you with life-changing dental implants at New Life Teeth.