Optical properties of advanced lithium disilicate

A variety of firing protocols are available for the IPS e.max lithium disilicate (LD) and can be used for new, 'advanced' LD (ALD). However, the impact of firing protocols on the optical properties of ALD is still unknown.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the color difference (ΔE00), the translucency parameter (TP00) and the whiteness index for dentistry (WID) for both LD glass ceramics after the processes of firing/glazing.

Fifty disk-shaped specimens, with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm, were fabricated from IPS e.max CAD (LD; Ivoclar) and another 50 from CEREC Tessera™ (ALD; Dentsply Sirona). The specimens from each group were further divided into 5 subgroups (n = 10) according to the firing/glazing protocol applied: crystallization (c); one-step crystallization and glazing (cg); crystallization and refiring (c-r); two-step crystallization and glazing (c-g); or long-firing crystallization (lfc). The ΔE00, TP00 and WID were assessed. The statistical analysis of ΔE00 was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test, while TP00 and WID were analyzed with the two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at a statistical significance level of 0.05. The cg groups were designated as the reference.

The ANOVA showed that the firing procedures had no effect on ΔE00, TP00 and WID in the case of LD. In addition, LD exhibited greater translucency and brightness as compared to ALD. For ALD, all color changes observed in relation to the reference firing protocol were clinically unacceptable. The ALD specimens which underwent 1 standard firing cycle showed higher TP00 and WID values than other ALD groups.

The choice of the firing protocol has no impact on the color, TP00 or WID of LD. Additionally, LD presents higher WID values than ALD, irrespective of the firing protocol used. Alternative firing protocols result in clinically unacceptable color variations when compared to the manufacturer-recommended protocol for ALD. Advanced LD is more sensitive to different firing protocols with regard to its optical properties, which makes the workflow less predictable in comparison with LD.