Effect of high-speed sintering on the properties of a zirconia material

Digital dentistry has led to the success of same-day, single-crown delivery. Unlike traditional convection furnaces for fabrication of zirconia materials, which typically require several hours to complete sintering, a dedicated high-speed sintering furnace that reportedly sinters zirconia in minutes is now available. Sintering times may increase or decrease based on the size of the restoration due to a novel interface between the chairside acquisition unit, milling unit, and furnace. The purpose of this study was to compare the flexural properties (strength and modulus), optical parameters (translucency and opalescence), and grain size of a full-contour tetragonal zirconia material after sintering in either a novel high-speed furnace or a conventional zirconia furnace. Rectangular zirconia beams were milled and sintered using the high-speed induction furnace for 26.2 minutes or a conventional convection furnace for 4.3 hours. Flexural strength and modulus were determined by subjecting the beams to a 3-point bending test in a materials testing machine. Translucency and opalescence were calculated using a spectrophotometer, and grain size was determined by using an atomic force microscope. The dedicated high-speed induction furnace sintered the tetragonal zirconia specimens in substantially less time than the conventional convection furnace, with a statistically significant decrease in grain size and no significant difference in strength or optical properties.