Ceramic Fracture in Metal-Ceramic Restorations: The Aetiology

Improving retention of dental veneers fabricated from an experimental enamel-based biopolymer compared with CAD/CAM hybrid materials

Objectives

CAD/CAM hybrid materials have become increasingly utilized in restorative dentistry. However, their low tensile bond strength (TBS) may lead to the detachment of minimally invasive restorations. When prepared, an experimental enamel-based biopolymer prosthesis provided a honeycomb-like interfacial layer with luting adhesives leading to a higher TBS than Ni-Cr-Be based alloy, lithium disilicate-based ceramic, and cured-resin-composite. This study aimed to compare TBSs of dental veneers fabricated from experimental biopolymer and commercial hybrid materials bonded to enamel using two different luting adhesives.

Methods

Laminate veneers (4 × 4 mm) 1 mm thick were prepared from commercial CAD/CAM blocks: VITA ENAMIC, SHOFU Block HC, KATANA AVENCIA, and an experimental biopolymer. The flat bonding surface of the veneers was ground to 600-grit, followed by 50-μm alumina air-abrading for standardization. Each veneer was fixed on flat ground bovine enamel using either Super-Bond C&B or RelyX™ U200 resin (n = 10). The surface treatment and bonding procedures were treated as recommended by the manufacturers. All bonded specimens were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h before tensile testing with a universal testing machine at a cross-headed speed of 1.0 mm/min. The fractured surface was examined with a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope. TBS data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (α = 0.05).

Results

Experimental biopolymer veneers demonstrated the highest mean TBS with cohesive failure in the luting agents. Adhesive failure at the veneer side interface was found in other groups. There was no significant difference between the two luting agents.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the experimental biopolymer veneer bonded to enamel provided the best retention. The TBS at the enamel-resin interface is higher than at the veneer-resin interface for all commercial CAD/CAM hybrid materials.

Clinical significance

An experimental enamel-based biopolymer veneer can provide better retention than CAD/CAM hybrid materials in clinical treatment.

An In Vitro Study on the Shear Bond Strength of Feldspathic Porcelain to Nickel Chromium Alloy and Cobalt Chromium Alloy after Various Surface Treatments

Background

To evaluate and compare the shear bond strength of feldspathic porcelain to four distinctively surface-treated Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloys and to assess the impact of oxidation-heat treatment on porcelain to base metal alloy bond strength.

Methods

40 specimens each of nickel-chromium alloy and cobalt-chromium alloy were cast. A total of four groups of specimens were created. Group I was surface-treated by sandblasting with 50 μm alumina particles, Group II was surface-treated by sandblasting with 110 μm alumina particles, Group III and Group IV were surface-treated with 250 μm alumina particles. In Group IV, after sandblasting initially with 250 μm alumina particles, the alloys were subjected to oxidation and resandblasting with 250 μm alumina particles. Each of the specimen was coated with opaque and body porcelain and fired to a total thickness of 2 mm porcelain. A universal measuring machine was used to assess shear bond strength at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min.

Results

Two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to assess the significant difference within the groups. Unpaired t-test was used for the intergroup comparison of the obtained data. The study showed that the size of the air abrasion particles used for sandblasting significantly influenced the porcelain to metal surface bond strength, with p value <0.001. The bond strength values of the two alloys tested showed no major variations. Result also showed that oxidation influences the metal-ceramic bond strength.

Conclusions

The bond strength of the metal-ceramic interface is influenced by the alloy's surface treatment. The oxidation process impacts the bond strength of the metal-ceramic system.

Retrospective Long-Term Clinical Outcome of Feldspathic Ceramic Veneers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of feldspathic ceramic laminate veneers over a 7-year period using minimally invasive techniques, such as vertical preparation (without prosthetic finish line), or no preparation (no-prep). A total of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers were cemented in the anterior region, including 70 maxillary and 100 mandibular veneers, after special conditioning of the teeth and restorations. The veneers were evaluated using the FDI World Dental Federation criteria evaluation kit after recalling all the patients between February and June 2021. In total, 14 feldspathic veneers failed and were replaced with lithium disilicate because of core fracture, and 10 cases of chipping occurred on the ceramic surface and were polished. The overall survival rate was 91.77% for up to 7 years of function, with a failure rate of 8.23%. In this retrospective survival analysis, the failures, including the fracture of veneers and dental hard tissue, occurred both in prep and no-prep teeth. No failures were observed in veneers with a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm compared to those with a maximum thickness of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, and 2.5 mm.

Comparative analysis of the surface properties and corrosion resistance of Co-Cr dental alloys fabricated by different methods

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

The complex oral environment leads to the corrosion of dental alloy materials and the release of metal ions that may have a negative impact on health. Digital manufacturing is increasingly being used in dentistry, but whether digitally manufactured prostheses have better resistance to corrosion than traditional cast prostheses is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the surface properties and corrosion resistance of dental cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys fabricated by lost-wax casting (CAST), selective laser melting (SLM), and computer numerical control milling (CNC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The surface characteristics of the specimens were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), metallurgical observation, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For corrosion resistance, the specimens were immersed in artificial saliva at a pH 2.3 and 6.8 for 1, 4, and 7 weeks. Then, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to detect the main metal ion. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted based on a 3-electrode system to assess the electrochemical corrosion resistance. An ANOVA test was used to evaluate statistically significant differences among the groups (α=.05).

RESULTS

The SLM and CNC specimens showed more homogenous microstructures, less ion release at different times and pH, and more charge transfer resistance than CAST specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with casting, SLM-printing and CNC-milling have advantages in terms of surface properties and corrosion resistance.