Influence of preparation and wall thickness on the resistance to fracture of zirconia implant abutments.
BACKGROUND
Studies about the effect of grinding procedures as well as material thickness on the resistance of zirconia implant abutments are in short supply.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effect of wall thickness as well as preparation on the resistance of zirconia implant abutments.


METHODS
Sixty-four implants received titanium (group Ti) and zirconia abutments (groups Zr-8, Zr-18, and Zr-1). The abutments of group Zr-8 had a 0.8-mm wall thickness, whereas the wall thickness of group Zr-18 was reduced by preparation from 1 mm to 0.8 mm. The abutments of group Zr-1 had a wall thickness of 1 mm. Standardized maxillary central incisor metal crowns were cemented on all abutments. All specimens were then tested in a universal testing machine for their resistance to fracture before and after masticatory simulation (n = 8).


RESULTS
The median resistance to fracture values (N) before and after aging were, respectively: group Ti: 500-504; group Zr-8: 487-491; group Zr-18: 490-451; and group Zr-1: 519-480. No significant effects of group, aging, or combinations were found (p > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
All tested abutments have the potential to withstand physiologic occlusal forces in the anterior region (> 200 N). The applicability of the results to other implant systems should be verified.
Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School, Albert-Ludwig University, Freiburg, Germany. wael.att@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Wael
W
Att
Nao-Daniel
ND
Yajima
Martin
M
Wolkewitz
Siegbert
S
Witkowski
Joerg Rudolf
JR
Strub
D001732:Bite Force; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods; D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003442:Crowns; D000044:Dental Abutments; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008422:Materials Testing; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; C028541:zirconium oxide