Analysis of surface characteristics of (Y, Nb)-TZP after finishing and polishing

PURPOSE: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the surface characteristics of a full veneer crown fabricated chairside (CS) from a (Y, Nb)-TZP zirconia block in response to conventional zirconia grinding and polishing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zirconia crowns (n = 40) were first prepared and divided into two groups of materials: Labside (LS) and CS, after which each specimen went through a five-step grinding and polishing procedure. Following each surface treatment, surface characteristics were analyzed using confocal laser microscopy (CLSM), average surface roughness (Ra) values were processed from the profile data through Gaussian filtering, and X-ray diffraction pattern analysis was performed to evaluate the monoclinic (M) phase content. Then, a representative specimen was selected for field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), followed by a final analysis of the roughness and X-ray diffraction of the specimens using the independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). RESULTS: In every group, polishing significantly reduced the Ra values (P < .001). There was no significant difference in Ra between the polished state CS and LS. Furthermore, CLSM and FE-SEM investigations revealed that even though grain exposure was visible in CS specimens throughout the as-delivered and ground states, the exposure was reduced after polishing. Moreover, while no phase transformation was visible in the LS, phase transformation was visible in CS after every surface treatment, with the M phase content of the CS group showing a significant reduction after polishing (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, clinically acceptable level of surface finishing of (Y, Nb)-TZP can be achieved after conventional zirconia polishing sequence.