Failure analysis of ceramic clinical cases using qualitative fractography.
OBJECTIVE
To educate dental academic staff and clinicians on the application of descriptive (qualitative) fractography for analyses of clinical and laboratory failures of brittle materials such as glass and ceramic.


METHODS
The fracture surface topography of failed glass, glass fiber-reinforced composite, and ceramic restorations (Procera, Cerestore, In-Ceram, porcelain-fused-to-metal) was examined utilizing a scanning electron microscope. Replicas and original failed parts were scrutinized for classic fractographic features such as hackle, wake hackle, twist hackle, arrest lines, and mirrors.


RESULTS
Failed surfaces of the veneering porcelain of ceramic and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns exhibited hackle, wake hackle, twist hackle, arrest lines, and compression curl, which were produced by the interaction of the advancing crack with the microstructure of the material. Fracture surfaces of glass and glass fiber-reinforced composite showed additional features, such as velocity hackle and mirrors. The observed features were good indicators of the local direction of crack propagation and were used to trace the crack back to an initial starting area (the origin).


CONCLUSIONS
Examples of failure analysis in this study are intended to guide the researcher in using qualitative (descriptive) fractography as a tool for understanding the failure process in brittle restorative materials and also for assessing possible design inadequacies.
Scherrer
Susanne S
SS
Department of Prosthodontics, University of Geneva, School of Dental Medicine, Switzerland. susanne.scherrer@medecine.unige.ch
Quinn
Janet B
JB
Quinn
George D
GD
Kelly
J Robert
JR
D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D003188:Composite Resins; D003442:Crowns; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D004548:Elasticity; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D023861:Photography, Dental / Q000379:methods
C105314:AllCeram; D003188:Composite Resins; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; C009753:fiberglass; D003776:Dental Porcelain; C070870:In-Ceram; C050798:cerestore; D000537:Aluminum Oxide