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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Mar 5;24(1):309.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-04070-7.

Translucency of recent zirconia materials and material-related variables affecting their translucency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mahinour Yousry  1 , Ihab Hammad  2 , Mohamed El Halawani  2 , Moustafa Aboushelib  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Translucency of recent zirconia materials and material-related variables affecting their translucency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mahinour Yousry et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Recent forms of translucent zirconia material have been developed, offering a wide range of options and varieties for enhancing aesthetics, making it a preferred choice in the field of prosthetic dentistry. However, there is insufficient understanding regarding the recent types of zirconia materials and their optical behavior. Understanding the variables that influence the translucency of zirconia and identifying strategies to enhance its esthetics are crucial.

Purpose: The current systemic review highlights a comprehensive understanding of different zirconia generations in relation to their optical characteristics and evaluates material-related variables affecting their translucency.

Methods: The present review studied in-vitro studies that evaluated the optical characteristics of different yttria content of yttria stabilized materials. The topics explored were: (1) the different zirconia material generations and their optical behavior; (2) material-related factors that affect their translucency. The research was restricted to online publication in the English language from July 1, 2010, to July 31, 2023, using PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct resources. The search key terms and their combinations were "zirconia," "translucent zirconia," "cubic zirconia," "highly translucent zirconia," "yttria partially stabilized zirconia," "monolithic zirconia," "translucency," "optical properties," and "light transmission."

Results: The data obtained from fifty-three studies addressed the optical characteristics of various zirconia generations. They reported that changing yttria content had a significant impact on translucency. Different kinds of zirconia ceramics of the same generation have varying translucencies. Achieving optimum aesthetics with monolithic zirconia is challenging due to factors related to material aspects such as the presence of additives, point defects, microstructure, thickness, phase distribution, and sintering conditions.

Conclusions: Newly developed monolithic dental zirconia ceramics have improved aesthetics and translucency. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate their performance and long-term durability.

Trial registration: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, under number CRD42023474482.

Keywords: Cubic zirconia; Highly translucent zirconia; Monolithic zirconia; Optical properties; Translucency; Yttria stabilized zirconia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The search process and flow diagram following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plots based on the meta- analysis. a translucency parameter results with 0.4 mm zirconia thickness; b translucency parameter results with 0.5 mm thickness; c translucency parameter results with 1 mm zirconia thickness; d translucency parameter results with 1.5 mm zirconia thickness
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plots based on the meta- analysis. Global a contrast ratio results with 0.4 mm thickness; b contrast ratio results with 0.5 mm thickness; c contrast ratio results with 1 mm thickness; d contrast ratio results with 1.5 mm thickness
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