[Research progress of novel digital three-dimensional gel deposition zirconia restorations and their applications in dental prosthodontics].

A novel full-contour monolithic zirconia restoration is fabricated through a fully digital workflow combined with three-dimensional (3D) gel deposition technique. Compared with conventional subtractive manufacturing, this approach enables the controlled and uniform deposition of nano-zirconia particles during forming, effectively minimizing packing defects. The wet-forming process also avoids machining defects that may occur during the milling of pre-sintered zirconia, thereby improving the internal homogeneity, density, and translucency of the restorations. Furthermore, nanoporous bonding surfaces can be performed by sol-gel coating technologies and significantly enhance adhesion properties. In recent years, this innovative material and fabrication method has attracted increasing attention from researchers worldwide, with numerous in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating its performance. Owing to its superior strength, aesthetics, accuracy, low antagonist wear, and reliable bonding, its clinical applications have been steadily expanding. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the performance and clinical applications of 3D gel deposition zirconia restorations, identify existing gaps in research and practice, and provide a theoretical basis for their further optimization and clinical application.