Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate a digital multi-piece zirconia post-crown to restore a mandibular second molar with extensive coronal loss and limited restoration space, and to compare the stress distribution between endocrowns made of zirconia or alloy and CAD/CAM multi-piece zirconia post-crowns.
Material and methods: Four three-dimensional finite element analysis models of a mandibular second molar with extensive coronal loss and limited restoration space were created as follows: (A) intact molar; (B) zirconia endocrown restored molar; (C) multi-piece post-crown restored-molar with tapered nail; (D) multi-piece post-crown restored molar with T-shaped nail. Models C and D were divided into two subgroups according to the material type: C1/D1, zirconia; C2/D2, NiCr alloy. The maximum modified von Mises failure criterion (mvM) stresses were calculated, and the stress distribution was recorded to analyze the effects of the restoration and material types on the biomechanical properties of dentin and prosthesis.
Results: The maximum mvM stress of dentin in model B (33.80 MPa) was lower compared with models C (C1, 37.81 MPa; C2, 36.36 MPa) and D (D1, 36.34 MPa; D2, 34.97 MPa) under vertical load, but the opposite was observed under oblique load. The highest mvM stress was concentrated in the nail region located in the root canal, and the T-shaped nail values were greater than the tapered nail, whereas model D with T-shaped nail showed a lower mvM stress level in dentin compared with Model C with tapered nail.
Conclusions: The digital multi-piece zirconia post-crown is a potential approach to restore mandibular second molars with extensive coronal loss and limited restoration space.
Clinical relevance: The digital multi-piece zirconia post-crown has potential to restore mandibular second molars with extensive coronal loss and limited restoration space using an innovative approach.
Keywords: Digital technology; Finite element analysis; Limited restoration space; Multi-piece post-crown; Zirconia nail.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.