Three generations of zirconia: From veneered to monolithic. Part II

This article presents the historical development of the different generations of zirconia and their range of indications, from veneered to monolithic zirconia restorations. While Part I concentrated on detailed information about the development of zirconia for dental use and the mechanical and optical properties, Part II deals with the resulting guidelines for working with the relevant generations by summarizing the correct cementation procedure. Furthermore, this part also focuses on translucency measurements for better characterization and understanding of the different materials. The results obtained from measuring light transmission and contrast ratio are compared and discussed in detail, with the aid of clinical photographs. Finally, the reader is given practice-relevant recommendations for different areas of clinical use of the zirconia generations along with advice on how to process them appropriately. Keywords: cementation, contrast ratio, flexural strength, full ceramic, monolithic zirconia restorations, reflectance, translucency, transmission, veneered zirconia restorations, zirconia