A research team, led by Dr. Christian Russel from the Otto-Schott-Institute for Glass Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, has developed a novel glass-ceramic material with a nanocrystalline structure, which can be used in dentistry applications thanks to its optical properties and superior strength.
Prof. Dr. Christian Russel, Head of the Otto-Schott-Institute for Glass Chemistry Credit: Anne Gunther/FSU.
The research team reported its findings in Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Silicon oxide, aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide-based glass-ceramics have high strength. According to Russel, the new glass-ceramic material has a five-fold strength when compared to that of existing denture ceramics. The material’s optical properties make it suitable for dentistry applications, he added.
Materials that are translucent and offer the exact color shade can only be used as dentures, according to Russel. To obtain these features, a specific temperature scheme has been used for the production of the glass-ceramics. Initially, melting of all raw materials is taken place at 1500°C. The materials are then cooled down and sliced finely. Now, the melting and cooling of the glass is taken place. The final stage is the production of nanocrystals through controlled heating at a temperature of 1000°C.
Russel stated that this method forms the crystallization essential for the product’s strength. However, the method is technologically challenging because more strongly crystallized product becomes opaque, disperses the light and appears like plaster. The consistence size of the nanocrystals plays a major role in the characteristics of the glass-ceramics. Most of the nanocrystals have a size of 100 nm. These nanocrystals cannot disperse light strongly due to their tiny size, making the Jena glass-ceramics as translucent as a natural tooth, said Russel. Further research is required to make glass-ceramics to be utilized as dentures.