In the current in vitro study, the fracture stability of anterior crowns with zirconia cores of different designs was investigated after applying different veneering techniques. Four groups of zirconia cores (n = 10 in each group) were produced using a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) process. Cores with a standard cervical design were veneered using the layering technique (CCL) or the press-over technique (CCP). Further cores were designed with a porcelain shoulder, where the cervical margin of the zirconia core was reduced by 1 mm. These cores were also veneered using the layering technique (PSL) or the press-over technique (PSP). All crowns were cemented onto metal teeth and loaded until fracture in a universal testing machine. Chipping or fracture of the core was found to occur for CCL at 919±265 N (mean ±SD), for CCP at 798±226 N, for PSL at 739±184 N, and for PSP at 734±209 N. anova did not show significant differences between the four groups. For CCL and CCP, fracture lines ran in a mesio-distal orientation. For PSL and PSP, fracture lines ran into the porcelain shoulder. In summary, the use of a porcelain shoulder can be recommended with zirconia crowns in combination with either the layering or the press-over veneering technique.
© 2011 Eur J Oral Sci.