Fracture resistance of metal-free composite crowns-effects of fiber reinforcement, thermal cycling, and cementation technique.
BACKGROUND
The improved mechanical properties of contemporary composites have resulted in their extensive use for the restoration of posterior teeth. However, the influence of fiber reinforcement, cementation technique, and physical stress on the fracture resistance of metal-free crowns is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
This in vitro study evaluated the effect of fiber reinforcement, physical stress, and cementation methods on the fracture resistance of posterior metal-free Sinfony crowns.


METHODS
Ninety-six extracted human third molars received a standardized tooth preparation: 0.5-mm chamfer preparation and occlusal reduction of 1.3 to 1.5 mm. Sinfony (nonreinforced crowns, n=48) and Sinfony-Vectris (reinforced crowns, n=48) crowns restoring original tooth contour were prepared. Twenty-four specimens of each crown type were cemented, using either glass ionomer cement (GIC) or resin cement. Thirty-two crowns (one third) were stored in humidity for 48 hours. Another third was exposed to 10,000 thermal cycles (TC) between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C. The remaining third was treated with thermal cycling and mechanical loading (TCML), consisting of 1.2 million axial loads of 50 N. The artificial crowns were then vertically loaded with a steel sphere until failure occurred. Significant differences in fracture resistance (N) between experimental groups were assessed by nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test (alpha=.05).


RESULTS
Fifty percent of the Sinfony and Sinfony-Vectris crowns cemented with glass ionomer cement loosened after thermal cycling. Thermal cycling resulted in a significant reduction in the mean fracture resistance for Sinfony crowns cemented with GIC, from 2037 N to 1282 N (P=.004). Additional fatigue produced no further effects. Fiber reinforcement significantly increased fracture resistance, from 1555 N to 2326 N (P=.001). The minimal fracture resistance was above 600 N for all combinations of material, cement and loading.


CONCLUSIONS
Fracture resistance of metal-free Sinfony crowns was significantly increased by fiber reinforcement. Adhesive cementation may be recommended to avoid cementation failure.
Lehmann
Franziska
F
Rupprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany. Franziska_Lehmann@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Eickemeyer
Grit
G
Rammelsberg
Peter
P
D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods*; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003442:Crowns; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D019246:Tooth Preparation; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry
C418025:Compolute; D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D019279:Resin Cements; C477352:Sinfony composite resin; C009753:fiberglass; D008277:Magnesium Oxide; C040235:Ketac-cem; D015034:Zinc Oxide