Among the following dental ceramics, which has the highest reported flexural strength?

Zirconia is recognized for having the highest reported flexural strength among dental ceramics. This strength is attributed to its unique crystalline structure and the presence of stabilizers, such as yttria, which help maintain its strength and toughness, especially under dynamic loading conditions.

The mechanical properties of zirconia make it an ideal choice for various dental applications, particularly in areas requiring high strength, such as posterior crowns and bridges. Its ability to withstand significant forces without fracturing is further enhanced by phenomena like transformation toughening, which occurs when the zirconia phase transitions under stress, leading to a volumetric expansion that further opposes crack propagation.

While other ceramics, such as feldspathic porcelain, leucite, and alumina, are also used in dentistry, they tend to have lower flexural strengths compared to zirconia. Feldspathic porcelain is known for its esthetic properties but is more brittle. Leucite-reinforced ceramics enhance strength compared to traditional feldspathic materials but still fall short of zirconia's performance. Alumina ceramics have good strength characteristics as well, but again, they do not reach the levels achieved by zirconia. Thus, zirconia stands out as the material with the highest flexural strength in this context.