CURRENT ADVANCES IN ZIRCONIA IN PROSTHODONTICS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Zirconia has emerged as one of the most important metal-free biomaterials in prosthodontics because of its high mechanical strength, favorable fracture resistance, acceptable esthetics, and good biocompatibility. This narrative review aimed to critically evaluate the composition, properties, processing methods, clinical applications, limitations, and recent advances of zirconia used in prosthodontics. A narrative literature search was carried out using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, along with manual screening of relevant references. Keywords related to zirconia, prosthodontics, Y-TZP, monolithic zirconia, CAD/CAM, implant abutments, and low-temperature degradation were used to identify relevant English-language publications from early landmark reports to recent studies. The selected literature was analyzed through a thematic narrative approach under material science, processing technologies, biological behavior, clinical applications, and current limitations. The reviewed evidence indicates that zirconia possesses excellent strength and fracture toughness, largely due to transformation toughening, while newer generations have shown improved translucency and enhanced esthetic potential. CAD/CAM technology has become the dominant method for zirconia fabrication because of its precision, reproducibility, and wide clinical applicability. However, important limitations remain, including low-temperature degradation, veneer chipping in bilayered restorations, and challenges associated with surface treatment and durable bonding. Within these limitations, zirconia continues to be a key prosthodontic material, but appropriate material selection and indication-specific use remain essential for achieving predictable long-term clinical outcomes.