PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COLORING LIQUIDS FOR DENTAL ZIRCONIA FRAMEWORKS

The coloring of the dental zirconia prostheses is performed by immersing the pre-sintered zirconia framework in the coloring liquid and waiting for a while. There are various problems that dental prosthesis laboratories experience regarding coloring processes. The most important of these is that the desired color cannot be obtained in the dental zirconia framework. This may be due to the different density and porosity values ​​of the zirconia frameworks prepared from different commercial zirconia blocks, the thickness of the framework or the unstable coloring liquids.In the present study, it was aimed to produce coloring liquids suitable for Zirmaxbrand dental zirconia blocks and characterization of zirconia samples that were colored using these liquids. For this purpose coloring liquids were produced by dissolving different metal salts, pure water and two different organic solvents. Zirconia samples are colored by immersing the samples into prepared coloring liquids. The colored zirconia samples were sintered at 1500 °C for 2 hours and then the colors of the samples were visually determined by a specialist dental technician. Crystallographic analyzes of zirconia frameworks were performed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Microstructures of zirconia samples were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). According to the color results of the zirconia samples that were analyzed visually, the coloring liquids were successfully produced in accordance with the IvoclarVivadent IPS e.max Ceram Dentin A-D color scale.