Zirconia can be found in space vehicle parts for their resistance to heat and also in some abrasives and sandpaper, and of course now in dentistry because of its superb biocompatibility, which is superior to titanium. The mineral form, zircon, can be found in Brazil, India, Russia and the USA, but 80% comes from Australia and South Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

Translucent glass-ceramic crown (left) compared with a zirconium oxide-based restoration (right) with a higher opacity of the framework.