A method of making a translucent colored zirconia dental restoration comprises obtaining a zirconia green body, forming a dental restoration precursor from the zirconia green body, applying a color liquid to the precursor, and sintering the restoration precursor with regular sintering in air without post HIP processing. The zirconia green body comprises between 7 wt % to 20 wt % of stabilizer based on a total weight percent of the zirconia green body, and at least some particles with a diameter of 100 nanometers to 1000 nanometers. The zirconia green body is subsequently finally sinterable with regular sintering in air without post HIP processing to produce a translucent zirconia sintered body having a total light transmittance of at least 36% and less than 50% to light with a wavelength of 400 nm, and less than 55% to light with a wavelength of 600 nm, at a thickness of 0.6 mm.
