Analysis of Translucency Parameter of Glass-Ceramics Fabricated by Different Techniques

Abstract

The purpose

of the study was to analyse translucency parameter (TP values) of glass-ceramics fabricated by different techniques and investigate the effect of the corrosive medium on TP values.

Materials and methods

Three specimens of each type of IPS e.max ceramics (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were made in three colours (A2, C2 and B3) by three fabrication techniques (layering – e.max Ceram Dentin; heat-pressing – e.max Press; CAD/CAM – e.max CAD). Specimens were made in the form of plates (10 mm x 12 mm x 0.8 mm). CIE L*a*b* values were measured by a spectrophotometer (X-Rite DTP 20 Pulse, Neu Isenburg, Germany) before and after exposure to 4% acetic acid at 80 °C for 16 hours (ISO 6872) to calculate translucency parameter (TP values). Statistical data were analysed using the IBM SPSS 22 software.

Results

IPS e.max Ceram Dentin had significantly the lowest TP values, and IPS e.max Press the highest TP values of all colours (A2, C2, B3), both prior and after exposure to acid (p<0.001). The difference in TP values among colours was evident in the IPS e.max Ceram Dentin material, both before and after exposure to acid with a great effect size (p<0.001; η2 = 0.702 and 0.741), and in the IPS e.max Press material (p<0.001, effect size 0.547 and 0.576). CAD/CAD specimens showed uniform TP values between three colours. Further, exposure to a corrosive medium did not result in a statistically significant change of TP values in any of the materials tested.

Conclusions

Different types of glass-ceramics showed significant difference in TP values both with respect to the fabrication technique and colour. Exposure to a corrosive medium did not result in a statistically significant change of TP values.

Introduction

Aesthetics has become a primary criterion for successful fixed prosthodontics treatment, especially regarding restoration of the front teeth. The aim of aesthetic dentistry is to create a restoration which does not differ in colour from natural teeth (1, 2). Therefore, optical properties of restorative materials are of exceptional importance. In dental prosthodontics, ceramic materials are considered superior materials to composites from the aesthetical point of view because of their excellent optical properties (3).

The colour and appearance of teeth is a complex phenomenon which includes a number of factors (4-6). Natural teeth are not of a uniform structure and are characterised by different colour and grades of translucency from the cervical to the incisal part. Translucency is the relative amount of passage of light through an object (1). Translucency of the restorative material gives natural appearance and vitality to the restoration. Therefore, in order to achieve optimum aesthetic results, in addition to mimicking the colour of natural teeth, it is equally important to mimic their translucency (2).

Translucency of dental ceramics depends on the interaction between the ceramic material and the incident light. Mixed white light on the surfaces of a ceramic crown conducts itself in accordance with the physical laws of reflection and refraction because of different optical densities of these two media. Thus, a part of the light is reflected and a part is refracted and passes through the other medium. If a smaller amount of light is reflected, and a greater part passes through (is refracted), the restoration will be transparent. The amount of light that is absorbed, reflected or transmitted depends on the relations between incident light wave lengths and the size and the number of particles (7-10). When the material is absolutely turbid (opaque), translucency (TP value) is about zero. Consequently, the higher the TP value the greater the translucency of a material (11, 12).

Glass-ceramics is a material that mimics dental tissue to a great extent, and has the best optical properties among all prosthetic materials (13). The advantage of glass-ceramic over other restorative materials is its translucency, which allows the passage of light in the same way as in natural teeth. It was created by developing silicate ceramics by procedures of controlled glass crystallisation. It is characterised by great mechanical resistance, hardness and stability to temperature changes (14). The fabrication of glass-ceramic restorations is based on the fabrication of the entire restoration from the same material or fabrication of the core and layers of veneering ceramics. The core is more or less translucent, but does not have much similarity with natural teeth (15). Glass-ceramic restorations can be fabricated in a dental laboratory by using three fundamental techniques – layering, heat-pressing and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) (16). The quality of a ceramic material depends on its components; type and amount of glass matrix and the type, amount, size and distribution of grains, techniques of fabrication and treatment of the restoration, and cycles and temperature of firing and cooling (6, 17). Since properties of any material are in the function of its structure, errors occurring during the fabrication or treatment of the restoration in the dental laboratory will make the microstructure of ceramics irregular and will result in unwanted effects (14).

Apart from the properties of the restorative material itself, the environment, i.e. the oral cavity, also affects the stability of the restoration. In this context it should be stressed that restorative materials and restorations should possess long-term stable optical properties in the oral cavity. Continuous exposure to an aqueous medium, pH changes due to the intake of various beverages and foods and changes elicited by agents for cleaning of the oral cavity combined with dynamic loads, cause tribocorrosion changes on the surface of the restoration. Corrosion in the mouth, besides being a form of electrochemical corrosion and galvanism, also represents corrosion caused by acid products of microorganisms. The greater the share of the glass matrix, the greater the effect of corrosion processes and the deterioration of the restoration has been reported (18, 19).

Contemporary dental materials are subject to control and biocompatibility testing in accordance with European and American standards. However, all controls do not absolutely guarantee the stability of the material in the mouth. Ceramics is considered to be a material resistant to corrosion, i.e. a biologically inert material, however, no material is completely inert (20, 21).

The purpose of this study was, with the aid of a spectrophotometer, to quantitatively measure and compare optical properties of translucency (TP values) on three types of glass-ceramic specimens in three different colours fabricated by three different techniques before and after exposure to a corrosive medium, 4% acetic acid (ISO 6872) (22).

The following research hypotheses were tested:

1. TP values of glass-ceramics depended on the fabrication technique.

2. TP values of glass-ceramics fabricated by the same technique depended on the colour.

3. Corrosion influenced changes in TP values.

Materials and procedures

Nine specimens of IPS e.max glass-ceramics (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were made in the form of plates with dimensions 10 mm x 12 mm x 0.8 mm ± 0.05 mm in three colours (A2, C2, B3). The tested glass-ceramics specimens are presented in Table 1. IPS e.max Press ingots and IPS e.max CAD ceramics blocks were fabricated in HT (high translucency).

Table 1. Layout of tested glass-ceramics.

Trade mark	Glass-ceramics type	Fabrication technique		Number of specimens
IPS e.max Press	lithium-disilicate	heat-pressing technique	3
IPS e.max CAD		CAD/CAM	3
IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	nano-fluorapatite	layering technique	3

All specimens were prepared by the same dental technician by standard procedures in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. IPS e.max Press specimens were made by using wax models, which were, after firing, pressed in moulds by the technique of heat-pressing of ingots. IPS e.max Ceram Dentin specimens were made by powder condensation technique, by manual mixing of the ceramic powder with distilled water and firing (Programat EP 5000, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). IPS e.max CAD specimens were made from factory-made blocks with the use of a milling machine (Amann Girrbach Ceramill Motion 2, Koblach, Austria).

After preparation, unglazed specimens were polished to obtain a smooth and even surface by using polishers, rubbers and silicon carbamide discs (Komet Dental, Gebr. Brasseler GmbH & Co. KG, Lemgo, Germany) and were ultrasonically washed and cleaned in distilled water for 15 minutes (ISO 3696).

In the first part of the study, measurements of CIE L*a*b* values of glass-ceramic specimens in three colours (A2, C2 and B3), fabricated by three different fabrication techniques were determined. L* represents the lightness/darkness of a colour, a* is a measure of redness (positive) or greenness (negative) and b* is a measure of yellowness (positive) or blueness (negative). Measurements were conducted instrumentally by using a calibrated spectrophotometer and colorimeter X-Rite DTP 20 Pulse (45°/0°measuring geometry, 2°standard observer, illuminant D65). The numerical TP value is based on the CIE L*a*b* three-dimensional system and represents the difference in colour of a specific specimen measured on achromatic backgrounds. Consequently, two series of measurements were conducted (measurement of specimens against standard white background, and measurement of the same specimens against standard black background). Ten measurements on each of nine different plates were made against each background, changing the position of the measuring instrument (spectrophotometer) at five different places first on one and then on the other side of the surface of the specimen. Measurements were monitored by ColorShop X software integrated into the X-Rite spectrophotometer). After measuring CIE L*a*b* values, the numerical value of translucency parameter was calculated in accordance with the following equation:

TP= [(L*w-L*b)² + (a*w-a*b)² + (b*w-b*b)²]^1/2

All specimens were then exposed to 4% acidic acid at 80 °C for 16 hours (ISO 6872). Following exposure to the corrosive medium, measurements of the TP values were repeated as described in the first part.

Statistical analysis

The normality of the distribution was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. In order to compare the differences in TP values between different types of materials and colours, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) with the Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc test were used. In order to compare TP values before and after exposure to acid, a mixed type of two-way ANOVA with intervention and material factors and three-way ANOVAs with intervention, material and colour factors and t-tests for dependent specimens were used for the assessment of differences within each material and each colour. Effect sizes were quantified by η2, and for dependent specimens using the equation r = √(t²/t²+df). Statistical data were analysed by IBM SPSS 22 software. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Table 2 shows the comparison between TP values of glass-ceramics of different colours fabricated by different fabrication techniques before and after exposure to acetic acid.

Table 2. Comparison of translucency before and after corrosion among materials of the same colour; t₀ = translucency before exposure to corrosive medium; t₁ = translucency after exposure to corrosive medium.

			AS±SD	p*	η2
Translucency t0	A2	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	7.58±0.92a
		IPS e.max Press	16.50±0.33b
		IPS e.max CAD	14.17±0.85c	<0.001	0.966
	C2	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	8.61±0.34a
		IPS e.max Press	17.53±0.50b
		IPS e.max CAD	13.87±1.17c	<0.001	0.963
	B3	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	9.69±0.30a
		IPS e.max Press	17.58±0.58b
		IPS e.max CAD	14.27±0.50c	<0.001	0.981
Translucency t1	A2	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	7.50±0.69a
		IPS e.max Press	16.18±0.30b
		IPS e.max CAD	13.95±0.68c	<0.001	0.978
	C2	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	8.62±0.41a
		IPS e.max Press	17.52±0.68b
		IPS e.max CAD	13.87±1.33c	<0.001	0.949
	B3	IPS e.max Ceram Dentin	9.62±0.48a
		IPS e.max Press	17.47±0.62b
		IPS e.max CAD	13.75±0.36c	<0.001	0.979

*ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc test. Types of materials which have different letters in the exponent have a statistically significant difference within the same colour.

IPS e.max Ceram Dentin had significantly the lowest TP, and IPS e.max Press the highest TP values (in all colours before and after exposure to acid p < 0.001).

The difference in TP values among colours was evident in IPS e.max Ceram Dentin material, both before and after exposure to acid with a great effect size (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.702 and 0.741) and in IPS e.max Press material (p < 0.001 with effect size 0.547 and 0.576). The IPS e.max Ceram Dentin colour A2 had significantly the lowest and the colour B3 the highest TP values, both before and after exposure to acid. The IPS e.max Press colour A2 had significantly lower TP than the colour C2 and the colour B3, both prior and after exposure to acid. No significant difference was observed between the colour C2 and the colour B3. Using the material IPS e.max CAD the differences among colours were not statistically significant either before or after exposure to acid (Table 2).

Analysis of the effect of corrosion

The two-way ANOVA did not show a significant interaction of the corrosion test and the material tested with respect to TP values. The three-way ANOVA did not detect a significant interaction of the corrosion test, the material used and the colour with respect to TP values.

Acid caused a significant reduction in TP values only in the IPS e.max CAD specimen colour B3 (p = 0.006) with the effect size of 58% (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Comparison of translucency before and after exposure to acid with respect to material and colour

The amount of change of TP values due to the exposure in acid was almost equal in all colours (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Comparison of the amount of change in translucency due to exposure to acid between materials and colours

Discussion

Research hypotheses have been accepted. By reviewing the relevant literature, translucency of ceramic materials, which is a very important property for the aesthetic appearance of materials, has not been thoroughly investigated. The knowledge of optical properties of specific restorative materials makes their use in the clinical practice easier. Thus, the aim of this paper was to contribute to the clarification of this complex issue. Ceramics covering the indications from fabrication of thin veneers to fixed partial dentures were tested. Technological durability and long-term stable optical properties of the restoration depend on the mechanical properties of the material which are determined by its composition and microstructure, the course of fabrication in a dental laboratory, the quality of the finishing treatment of the restoration, the connective agent and the quality of the entire fabrication procedure (3, 23, 24). It is considered that the layering technique is liable to greatest errors because of the human factor and possible oversights in manual procedures.

Statistically significant differences among glass-ceramics fabricated by different techniques were recorded in this study; therefore the first research hypothesis is accepted. The specimen made by heat-pressing technique (IPS e.max Press) had the greatest TP values, which is in accordance with a research conducted by Bagis et al. (12). However, those authors stated that specimens fabricated by computer-aided manufacturing (IPS e.max CAD) had the lowest TP values, whereas in this study the lowest TP values were measured in the specimen fabricated by the layering technique (IPS e.max Ceram Dentin). This can be explained by the fact that e.max Press ingots and e.max CAD ceramics blocks were selected in the high translucency (HT), whereas e.max Ceram Dentin was optically relatively thick. However, a similarity is observed in the fact that glass-ceramics fabricated by computer-aided manufacturing showed lower TP values than glass-ceramics fabricated by heat-pressing technique.

Significant differences were observed in this study by analysing the TP values of specimens of different colours fabricated by the same technique; therefore the second research hypothesis is accepted. It was established that specimens fabricated by the layering technique and heat-pressing technique showed deviations in TP values, in contrast to the specimens fabricated by computer-aided manufacturing which showed no difference, both before and after exposure to corrosion. Specimens fabricated by the layering technique showed the lowest TP values in all colours. Specimens of the colour A2 had the lowest TP values, whereas TP values of the colour B3 were the greatest. Among specimens fabricated by the heat-pressing technique, the colour A2 again showed the lowest TP values, whereas the colours C2 and B3 showed the same values. Specimens fabricated by computer-aided manufacturing did not show difference of TP values of different colours.

The layering technique is liable to greatest variations because ceramic powder is manually mixed with the liquid. The final condensation is conditioned by the size of the ceramic grain, the amount of the liquid introduced during modelling and the condensation technique itself. Thus, great differences in the final product from one technician to another may occur. Condensation procedures have a significant effect on optical and mechanical properties of the ceramic material. Chu et al. emphasised that the precise ceramic powder/liquid ratio in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions does not always ensure proper thickness and porosity and consequently the translucency or opacity of the restoration (25). The importance of the chemical structure of the components and the size of crystals inserted in the glass matrix is also emphasised (8).

In contrast to the layering technique, factory-made semi-finished products (IPS e.max Press ceramic ingots or IPS e.max CAD blocks for milling) are structurally more stable. Their ceramic particles were pressed in the factory under high temperature and pressure which results in a very thick material with a homogeneous microstructural picture (12).

Wang found out that the translucency of the glass-ceramics restoration is significantly affected by the type and thickness of the veneering dental ceramics. Translucency of dental ceramics increases exponentially with reduced thickness (7). Lim showed comparable values of translucency measured by a spectrophotometer (higher TP values) and by spectroradiometer (26). Other authors bring into correlation the translucency of dental ceramics with illumination (27, 28), the impact of glazed/unglazed surface of glass-ceramics (29) and the impact of the cement and the colour of the prepared tooth (30).

By artificial exposure of specimens to a corrosive medium an insight is gained into the stability of glass-ceramics and the stability of the translucency property in the oral cavity compromised by corrosion in a significantly more rapid and simpler manner than in in vivo studies. The use of acetic acid is justified for more reasons; it is often used in households, its pH (2.4) is very similar to that of some beverages, and such pH is also present in the areas below plaque. Such lower pH is also often present in the mouth of patients suffering from stomach diseases.

It is known that, because of the effect of the corrosive medium on the ceramic restoration there is a disruption of bonds in the fundamental structural units of glass, silica tetrahedrons, which means that a greater amount of glass matrix in the material with the same corrosive effect of the environment results in greater corrosion. Blocks for computer-aided manufacturing contain significantly much less glass matrix than ceramics used in the layering technique and are therefore chemically more stable (31-33). However, the effect of the acid on translucency of glass-ceramics was not statistically significant in this study for any of the fabrication techniques; therefore the third research hypothesis is rejected. The results are in accordance with the results obtained by other authors (12, 22). A conclusion can be made that ceramic materials are chemically stable. Some studies bring into relation the appearance of roughness on the surface of the restoration resulting from long-term exposure to acid medium and consequent changes in the optical properties (21, 28). However, additional research on this complex topic is needed.

Conclusion

Under the limitation of this study, it was concluded that different types of glass-ceramics showed significant differences in TP values, both with respect to the fabrication technique and with respect to colour. Exposure to a corrosive medium did not result in a statistically significant change in TP values. Thus, glass-ceramics fabricated by all fabrication techniques showed excellent chemical stability.