Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pH changes in the oral cavity on the mechanical properties of zirconia and feldspathic ceramics. Bilayered zirconia-feldspathic samples were prepared from three different commercial brands of Y-TZP blocks: Zirkonzahn, Cercon, and Everest. Samples were stored in artificial saliva with different pH values (3.5, 7.0, and 10.0) for 10 days at 37°C. Flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness were calculated after samples were subjected to biaxial flexure test. Microstructural analysis of the materials was also performed.Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey's test (α=0.05). Acidic and alkaline environments adversely affected the mechanical properties of zirconia, resulting in material degradation, loss of stabilizer content, and increase in tetragonal-monoclinic phase transformation. Commercial dental zirconia blocks have varied mechanical properties, but they are generally susceptible to degradation when exposed to corrosive environments.
