Zirconia in Restorative Dentistry

Advancements in dental material science and technology have improved over the past decade tremendously. The demand for tissue-friendly esthetic materials has been fulfilled to a certain extent on account of the development of new materials. Most materials meet the requirements of esthetics, function and biocompatibility. They exhibit the properties of color stability, improved resistance to wear, dimensional stability and they are tissue-friendly. These new materials are able to provide desirable and optimum treatment outcomes on a long-term basis on account of their nature and advances in manufacturing and fabrication. Reinforced ceramic restorations are now completed within a very short time from start to finish—from digital impression to bonding of the restoration. Zirconia-reinforced ceramics share the top choice in materials along with lithium disilicate. The most recent zirconia has improved optical properties and has the potential to overcome its problem of increased opacity. These zirconia-based ceramics have successfully replaced even precious metal alloys and porcelain-fused-to-metal prostheses due to the above-mentioned qualities. This chapter throws light on zirconia and the different types used in dentistry, applications, methods of fabrication and clinically relevant properties.