(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in terms of surface characteristics (roughness, topography, microhardness) among layers for multi-layered high translucent and super-high translucent zirconia and the influence of finishing and aging on surface characteristics and microstructure. (2) Methods: Three types of translucent multilayer zirconia were evaluated: STML (4Y-TZP); IPS e.maxZirCAD CEREC/in Lab MT Multi (4Y-TZP + 5Y-TZP); CeramillZolidfx ML (5Y-TZP). Ninety-six plate-shaped samples (32 for a material), 16 mm × 14 mm × 1 mm size, were cut with a precision disc, polished on both sides with sand papers and sintered respecting the manufacturer’s protocol. Half of the specimens (16) were finished by polishing and the other half by glazing and then equally divided into one control group and one group subject to aging by autoclaving (1 h, 134 °C, 0.2 MPa), resulting in four groups of eight samples, for each zirconia. The specimens were evaluated in three areas: cervical, medium, incisal-of each glazed or polished surface, before and after aging. Tests were performed to determine the surface roughness using a profilometer; the surface topography by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Microhardness was recorded using a microhardness tester. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA test, unpaired sample t-Test, paired sample t-Test (α = 0.05) and Pearson’s correlation. (3) Results: Before and after autoclaving, for glazed samples significance (p < 0.05) higher surface roughness, respectively lower microhardness in comparison with the polished group was assessed. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were reported between the three areas, on glazed or polished surfaces of a material. Although, after aging an increase in surface roughness was observed both on glazed and polished samples, statistical differences were found for STML (p < 0.05). No significant differences (p> 0.05) concerning microhardness among the same areas, on glazed and polished surfaces, recorded before and after aging, except CeramillZolidfx ML glazed samples. (4) Conclusions: For tested zirconia materials no significant differences among layers were registered regarding surface characteristics. Surface treatment (glazing or polishing) has a significant impact on surface roughness and microhardness. Both before and after aging, the surface roughness values for the glazed samples were higher than for those polished. The super translucent 4Y-TZP material was more affected by aging compared to the super-high translucent 5Y-TZP material. The combined material revealed similarities for each layer corresponding to the microstructure.
Keywords: aging; microhardness; microroughness; multilayer zirconia; surface topography.