Fluorescence and physical properties of thulium and erbium co-doped dental zirconia

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Ceramics

Background:

• Yttria-stabilized zirconia is a common dental material.
• Improving the aesthetic properties of zirconia is crucial for patient satisfaction.
• Current dental zirconia may not perfectly match natural tooth aesthetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the fluorescence and physical properties of thulium and erbium co-doped dental zirconia.
• To determine optimal doping concentrations for achieving natural tooth-like fluorescence.
• To evaluate the impact of co-doping on mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of high-translucency yttria-stabilized zirconia specimens.
• Co-doping with thulium oxide (Tm2O3) at 0.8 wt% and erbium oxide (Er2O3) at varying concentrations (0.1-0.8 wt%).
• Characterization of fluorescence, crystal structure (tetragonal phase), Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and bending strength.

Main Results:

• Specimens co-doped with 0.8 wt% Tm2O3 and 0.3-0.5 wt% Er2O3 exhibited fluorescence similar to natural teeth.
• All doped specimens maintained a tetragonal crystal structure.
• No significant changes were observed in Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, or bending strength.

Conclusions:

• Co-doping high-translucency dental zirconia with trace amounts of Tm2O3 and Er2O3 effectively enhances aesthetic properties.
• The optimized doping concentrations achieve fluorescence comparable to natural teeth.
• This approach offers a viable method for improving the esthetics of zirconia monolithic fixed dental prostheses without sacrificing mechanical integrity.