Surface treatment process and effect of zirconia blocks

Surface treatment process and effect of zirconia blocks

Zirconia blocks are widely used in dental restoration due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility and aesthetic effects. To further enhance its performance, it is necessary to optimize its adhesion, wear resistance and appearance through surface treatment processes. The following are common surface treatment processes and their effects:

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First, common surface treatment processes

Sandblasting treatment

Process: Alumina particles (50-250μm) are sprayed at high speed onto the surface of zirconia driven by compressed air to increase the surface roughness.

Effect:

Improve surface wettability, reduce organic pollution and increase the hydroxyl content on the surface.

Enhance mechanical interlocking force and improve the bonding strength with resin adhesives.

It may lead to surface microcracks and reduce the mechanical properties of the material.

Laser etching

Process: Utilize lasers such as Er:YAG and Nd:YAG to generate local high temperatures on the surface of zirconia, causing the surface to melt and recrystallize, thus forming a rough surface.

Effect:

Increase the surface roughness and enhance the mechanical locking force.

Avoiding crystal phase transformation has a relatively small impact on the material strength.

The type and parameters of the laser need to be optimized to avoid a decrease in bonding strength after aging.

Silicon coating technology

Process: A silicon coating is formed on the surface of zirconia through chemical friction (SiO₂ modified Al₂O₃ particle sandblasting) or thermal decomposition (high-temperature decomposition of tetraethoxysilane).

Effect:

Increase the content of silicon on the surface to enhance the chemical bonding force with the resin.

Significantly enhance the bonding strength and reduce microleakage.

The thickness and uniformity of the coating need to be strictly controlled.

Glass melting treatment

Process: Spray low-temperature glass ceramics on the surface of zirconia and achieve a firm bond through low-temperature sintering.

Effect:

The surface structure and composition are similar to those of glass ceramics, and mechanical locking force can be generated through hydrofluoric acid etching.

Provide reliable chemical bonding force and enhance the bonding effect.

The operation is simple and the technical sensitivity is low.

Plasma treatment

Process: The surface of zirconia is treated by low-temperature plasma technology to increase the number of polar groups.

Effect:

It does not affect the properties of the matrix and avoids the reduction of mechanical strength.

Improve surface wettability and enhance the bonding strength with resin.

The processing technology is simple and environmentally friendly.

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Second, suggestions for process selection

Clinical requirements: Select the process based on the specific needs of the restoration. For instance, when high bonding strength is required, silicon coating or glass melting treatment should be given priority.

Material properties: Considering the composition and structure of the zirconia block, select the process that has the least impact on its performance.

Ease of operation: Prioritize processes that are easy to operate and have low technical sensitivity, such as sandblasting and plasma treatment.

Cost-effectiveness: Comprehensively assess the process cost and effect, and select the solution with the best cost performance.

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Third, future development direction

Nanotechnology: Utilizing nanomaterials to enhance the adhesion and wear resistance of zirconia surfaces.

Bioactive coatings: Develop bioactive coatings to promote bone integration and soft tissue adhesion.

Intelligent processing: By integrating artificial intelligence and robotics technology, achieve precise and automated surface treatment.

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Through reasonable surface treatment processes, the performance of zirconia blocks can be significantly improved to meet different clinical needs. In the future, with the advancement of materials science and processing technology, the surface treatment process of zirconia blocks will become more efficient, precise and environmentally friendly.