Restoring tooth color by Powder Jet Deposition

Abstract

Powder jet deposition (PJD) is a film formation technique involving the high-speed collision of particles on the target material, and it can be performed at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. These characteristics enable PJD to create a film of hydroxyapatite (HA) on human teeth. However, the film hardly conceals the base color due to its transparency. Therefore, ZrO₂ particles and HA particles covered with ZrO₂ particles were employed in PJD. The film forming effectiveness was higher in the order HA particles, composite particles, and ZrO₂ particles. Conversely, the brightness per film thickness was higher in the reverse order. Comparing the entire film deposited within one operation, the composite film was the brightest, and ZrO₂ layers were evenly distributed within it. These results indicated that PJD could be applied to aesthetic dental treatment.