An Evaluation of the Colour Stability and Surface Roughness of High Translucency Zirconia Dental Ceramic after Immersion in Different Acidic Media: An In-vitro Study

Abstract

Introduction: Demand for increasingly appealing metal-free ceramic restorations drives research. With its exceptional mechanical and biological properties, zirconia crown outperforms other traditional ceramic materials. With outstanding mechanical and biological qualities, zirconia has several therapeutic applications. Temperature, environment, diet, and smoking habits all affect colour and surface roughness of dental restorations. Aim: To investigate the colour stability and surface roughness of high translucency monolithic zirconia following immersion in various acidic solutions. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro study was conducted at Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Duration of the study was 6 months, from December 2019 to June 2020. Thirty rectangular samples from a CAD (computer-aided Design)/ Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) machined Zirconia blank with 10x8x1 mm dimensions was sintered at 1350°C, tested for colour stability (E) and surface roughness prior to immersion (R). Classified into Groups CO (coffee), TO (tobacco) and CA (citric acid medium). Colour stability and surface roughness were re-evaluated post immersion on all samples using spectrophotometers and profilometer respectively. A significant difference in surface roughness and colour stability between the test groups was assessed using the paired-t test. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. Results: Colour stability and surface roughness variations between the baseline value and three groups were found to be unaltered by different acidic media. The intergroup comparison of spectrophotometric analysis between the three groups had a standard deviation of 0.422 for citric acid medium, 0.316 for Coffee medium and 0.422 for Tobacco medium with an overall p-value of 0.804. The intergroup comparison of profilometric analysis had a standard deviation of 0.316 for Citric acid medium, 0.00 for Coffee medium and 0.00 for Tobacco medium with an overall p-value of 0.381. The paired-t-test study showed that immersion in different acidic media had little effect on surface roughness of samples with a p-value of 0.343 but it was under clinically acceptable range. Conclusion: According to the present study, high translucency monolithic zirconia had greater colour stability when treated with citric acid, followed by tobacco and then with coffee media, whereas, zirconia in coffee media had greater surface roughness, followed by tobacco, and then with citric acid media. However, both the results were clinically acceptable, indicating a 10 year lifespan when properly glazed.