Shaded Zirconium Oxide Articles

Abstract

A dental article includes yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic, and no more than about 0.15 wt. % of one or more coloring agents of one or more of: Pr, Tb, Cr, Nd, Co, oxides thereof, and combinations thereof, whereby the dental article is provided with a color corresponding to a natural tooth shade; and wherein the dental article has a flexural strength of at least about 800 MPa. Corresponding methods are also described.

1 . A dental article comprising:
 yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic; and   no more than about 0.15 wt. % of one or more coloring agents comprising one or more of: Pr, Tb, Cr, Nd, Co, Ni, oxides thereof, and combinations thereof, whereby the dental article is provided with a color corresponding to a natural tooth shade;   wherein the dental article has a flexural strength of at least about 800 MPa when sintered to at least 98% of its theoretical density.   
     
     
         2 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the article has a strength distribution characterized by a Weibull modulus of greater than 10. 
     
     
         3 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the article further comprises less than about 0.1 wt. % aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the article has a flexural strength of at least about 1000 MPa when sintered to at least 98% of its theoretical density. 
     
     
         5 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises at least one of: a block or blank, a prefabricated shape, a support or framework for a dental restoration, a coping, pontic, denture teeth, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliance, orthodontic retainer, denture, post jacket, facet, splint, cylinder, pin, connector, a crown, a partial crown, a veneer, an onlay, an inlay, a bridge, fixed partial dentures, a Maryland bridge, an implant abutment or whole implant. 
     
     
         6 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Pr and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Cr and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Co and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Pr, Cr, and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents consist essentially of Pr, Cr, and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Pr, Cr, Co and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents consist essentially of Pr, Cr, Co and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents comprise Tb, Nd and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coloring agents consist essentially of Tb, Nd and/or oxides thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises no more than about 0.10 wt. % of the one or more coloring agents. 
     
     
         16 . The dental article of  claim 9 , wherein the article comprises no more than about 0.08 wt. % of the one or more coloring agents. 
     
     
         17 . The dental article of  claim 10 , wherein the article comprises no more than about 0.07 wt. % of the one or more coloring agents. 
     
     
         18 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the dental article has a flexural strength of at least about 900 MPa when sintered to at least 98% of its theoretical density. 
     
     
         19 . The dental article of  claim 18 , wherein the dental article as a flexural strength of at least about 1200 MPa when sintered to at least 98% of its theoretical density. 
     
     
         20 . The dental article of  claim 1 , wherein the yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic is translucent. 
     
     
         21 . A dental restoration comprising:
 a core or framework comprising:   yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic; and   no more than about 0.15 wt. % of one or more coloring agents comprising one or more of: Pr, Tb, Cr, Nd, Co, Ni, oxides thereof, and combinations thereof, whereby the core or framework is provided with a color corresponding to a natural tooth shade;   wherein the core or framework has a flexural strength of at least about 800 MPa;   and   an overlay bonded to the core or framework.   
     
     
         22 . The dental restoration of  claim 21 , wherein the restoration comprises at least one of: a crown, a partial crown, a veneer, an onlay, an inlay, a bridge, fixed partial dentures, a Maryland bridge, an implant abutment or whole implant. 
     
     
         23 . The dental restoration of  claim 21 , wherein the overlay is bonded to the core or framework by firing, fusing, sintering or pressing. 
     
     
         24 . The color dental restoration of  claim 21 , has CIE L*, a*, b* color coordinates within CIE L*, a*, b*color space region associated with tooth colors. 
     
     
         25 . The dental restoration of  claim 21 , wherein the overlay comprises porcelain. 
     
     
         26 . The dental restoration of  claim 21 , wherein the yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramic is translucent.