Effect of staining techniques and repeated firing cycles on translucency, color and biaxial flexural strength of advanced lithium disilicate containing Virgilite crystals.

Background: The repeated firings can enhance shade matching, translucency, and strength; however, they may also lead to color shifts. Previous research suggests that multiple firings enhance these properties to a certain extent; however, the impact of staining techniques remains underexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of staining techniques and multiple firings on the translucency, color and biaxial flexural strength of advanced lithium disilicate ALD containing Virgilite crystals.

Methods: Sixty-three discs of ALD (CEREC Tessera^®) were divided into 3 groups based on staining techniques (n = 21); group CO (glaze only), group SC (single-step characterization), and group DC (double-step characterization). The discs were then subjected to either 2, 4, or 6 firing cycles, resulting in 9 groups (n = 7): COII, COIV, COVI, SCII, SCVI, DCII, DCIV, and DCVI. Relative translucency parameter (RTP), color change (ΔE), and biaxial flexural strength were measured, then discs were analyzed using SEM. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, Bonferroni correction, and Spearman's correlation (α = 0.05).

Results: Repeated firing and staining techniques significantly affected translucency, color change, and biaxial flexural strength (p < 0.001). Translucency increased with firings, highest in CO and lowest in DC. ΔE increased with firings, highest for DC and lowest in CO. The biaxial flexural strength of the CO group remained stable across firing cycles, with no significant changes. The SC group, initially the weakest, showed a significant increase, reaching its peak after six cycles. The DC group had high strength in the fourth cycle, with a significant difference observed between the second and fourth cycles. By the sixth cycle, all groups showed comparable strength with no significant differences.

Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, firing cycles and staining techniques impact the properties of ALD. More firing cycles enhance translucency but increase color change. Repeated firing, particularly with the double-step characterization technique, significantly improved biaxial flexural strength up to the fourth cycle, demonstrating its superior performance over the single-step characterization technique.