Effect of abutment design on fracture resistance of resin-matrix ceramic crowns for dental implant restoration: an in vitro study

Jie Lin; Pingping Cai; Yingying Zhuo; Ling Lin; Zhiqiang Zheng

doi:10.1186/s12903-023-03100-0

Effect of abutment design on fracture resistance of resin-matrix ceramic crowns for dental implant restoration: an in vitro study

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Jun 21;23(1):410. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03100-0.

Authors

Jie Lin^{1

2

3}, Pingping Cai¹, Yingying Zhuo¹, Ling Lin¹, Zhiqiang Zheng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Zhong Road, 350002, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China.
² Department of Crown and Bridge, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, 102-8159, Tokyo, Japan.
³ School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, 102-8159, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Zhong Road, 350002, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China. oliverzq@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance and fracture resistance of different resin-matrix ceramic materials for use in implant-supported single crowns with respect to the abutment design (crown thickness: 1 mm, 2 and 3 mm).

Methods: Forty-eight abutments and crowns were fabricated on implants in the right lower first molar. Two resin-matrix ceramic materials for dental crowns were selected for study: (1) a glass-ceramic in a resin interpenetrating matrix (Vita Enamic, Vita, Germany) and (2) a resin-based composite with nanoparticle ceramic filler (Lava Ultimate, 3 M ESPE, USA). Three types of abutments were designed: 1 mm thick crown + custom titanium abutment, 2 mm thick crown + custom titanium abutment and 3 mm thick crown + prefabricated titanium abutment. The experiment was divided into 6 groups (n = 8) according to the crown materials and abutment designs. After 10,000 thermocycles, fracture resistance was measured using a universal testing machine. The statistical significance of differences between various groups were analysed with ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference test. The surfaces of the fractured specimens were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the abutment design (F = 28.44, P = 1.52 × 10^{- 8}<0.001) and the crown materials (F = 4.37, P = 0.043 < 0.05) had a significant effect on the fracture resistance of implant crown restoration. The Lava Ultimate-2 mm group showed the highest fracture resistance of 2222.74 ± 320.36 N, and the Vita Enamic-3 mm group showed the lowest fracture resistance of 1204.96 ± 130.50 N. Most of the 1 and 2 mm groups had partial crown fractures that could be repaired directly with resin, while the 3 mm group had longitudinal fracture of the crown, and the crowns were detached from the abutments.

Conclusion: Based on the in vitro data of this study, the fracture resistance of the 2 mm thick resin-matrix ceramic crown design was higher than that of the 1 and 3 mm groups. The 2 mm thick resin-matrix ceramic crown and personalized abutment are an option to replace zirconia for implant crown restoration.

Keywords: Abutment; Crown thickness; Dental implant restoration; Fracture resistant; Resin-matrix ceramics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ceramics
Computer-Aided Design
Crowns
Dental Implants*
Dental Porcelain
Dental Restoration Failure
Dental Stress Analysis
Humans
Materials Testing
Titanium

Substances

Dental Implants
Titanium
Dental Porcelain