title: ADM guidance-Ceramics: guidance to the use of fractography in failure analysis of brittle materials.
abstract: To provide background information and guidance as to how to use fractography accurately, a powerful tool for failure analysis of dental ceramic structures.
  
  
  
  An extended palette of qualitative and quantitative fractography is provided, both for in vivo and in vitro fracture surface analyses. As visual support, this guidance document will provide micrographs of typical critical ceramic processing flaws, differentiating between pre- versus post sintering cracks, grinding damage related failures and occlusal contact wear origins and of failures due to surface degradation.
  
  
  
  The documentation emphasizes good labeling of crack features, precise indication of the direction of crack propagation (dcp), identification of the fracture origin, the use of fractographic photomontage of critical flaws or flaw labeling on strength data graphics. A compilation of recommendations for specific applications of fractography in Dentistry is also provided.
  
  
  
  This guidance document will contribute to a more accurate use of fractography and help researchers to better identify, describe and understand the causes of failure, for both clinical and laboratory-scale situations. If adequately performed at a large scale, fractography will assist in optimizing the methods of processing and designing of restorative materials and components. Clinical failures may be better understood and consequently reduced by sending out the correct message regarding the fracture origin in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, University Clinic of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: susanne.scherrer@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Susanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Scherrer
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory for Dental Biomaterials, Dental Clinic 1, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: ulrich.lohbauer@fau.de.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lohbauer
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Dentistry, Dental School, University of Passo Fundo, Campus I, BR 285, 99052-900, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: dbona@upf.br.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Bona
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: alessandrovichi1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Department VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Saeckingen, Germany. Electronic address: m.tholey@vita-zahnfabrik.com.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tholey
authors.affiliation: Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Center for Biomaterials, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA. Electronic address: kelly@uchc.edu.
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: r.vannoort@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Noort
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: paulofc@usp.br.
authors.forename: Paulo Francisco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cesar
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics; D003764:Dental Materials; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D003776:Dental Porcelain
keywords: Ceramic; Failure; Fatigue; Fractography; Fracture; Interface; Strength; Toughness; Wear; Zirconia