Y-TZP ceramics: key concepts for clinical application.

Compared to conventional ceramic systems, Yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramics have some superior mechanical properties, ensuring a broad application in dentistry. The current study aimed to present relevant information about Y-TZP ceramics gathered from peer-reviewed papers. A search of the English language peer-reviewed literature was conducted using the PubMed database between 1998 and 2008. Articles that did not focus exclusively on the clinical application of Y-TZP ceramic restorations were excluded from further evaluation. Selected papers describe the chief characteristics of zirconia ceramics and important clinical features, especially those related to cementation procedures. The literature shows that, although new substances and equipment for the surface preparation of zirconia ceramics are in development, the most promising luting protocol seems to be the use of air abrasion with aluminum oxide particles (silanated or not), followed by the application of resin cements or surface primers containing special reactive monomers. However, because zirconia ceramics have only recently been developed for dental applications, there is not enough clinical evidence to support any definitive cementation protocol.