Optical properties evaluation of rapid sintered translucent zirconia with two dental colorimeters

Background/purpose: The efficient rapid sintering technique has employed to dental zirconia ceramics for shortening the fabrication time of zirconia restorations. The purpose was to compare the optical properties of two generations of rapid sintered translucent zirconia using two dental colorimeters. Materials and methods: Two generations of translucent zirconia ceramics, 3 mol% yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP): Copran Zr-i Ultra-T (UT) and Cercon HT (HT), and 5 mol% yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (5Y-TZP): Cercon xt (XT), of different thicknesses (0.5, 0.8, and 1.2 mm; n = 5) underwent rapid sintering (RS) or conventional sintering (CS). The CIELAB values were measured on the white and black backgrounds, respectively, by digital colorimeters, shadepilot, DeguDent (DD) and Easyshade V, Vita (Vita). Translucency parameter (TP), color difference (ΔE), surface morphology, and surface roughness were evaluated. Results: RS resulted in reduced lightness, except in the XT group. The chromaticity increased slightly after RS. Translucency decreased with increasing material thickness. ΔE values differed between both sintering processes but were clinically acceptable (ΔE < 5). Grain size of XT decreased after RS. RS did not affect the surface roughness. Conclusion: RS is a feasible method for shortening the manufacturing time of zirconia restorations. A significant difference in TP value was only in the XT group between both sintering methods as measured on DD. Color differences in rapid sintered translucent zirconia materials are imperceptible and acceptable. The specimen thickness affected more in the TP values of Vita than DD. DD has higher sensitivity to translucency and color compared with Vita.