Reinforcing Glaze Layer of Restorative Dental Zirconia by Adding Nano Alumina Ceramics

The objective of this work is to study the effect of adding varying ratios of Nano Alumina to the glazing powder on glazing layer of restorative dental ceramic. The effect of addition is examined by applying Vickers hardness and surface roughness tests on the glazing layer. The specimens have been cut in a cubic form. The specimens were placed in the furnace for sintering up to temperature of 1450 oC. One specimen is glazed with glazing materials and the remaining three specimens are glazed with glazing materials but supported with varying ratios of Nano Alumina (10, 15 and 25 wt%) and all these specimens sintered at 850 oC. It was found that Vickers hardness is increased with increasing the ratios of Nano Alumina but the surface roughness decreased with increasing the ratios of Nano Alumina. Weibull modulus increased with Alumina additive increases for glass coating layer.

Influence of Varying Dentin and Enamel Layer Thicknesses of Nano-composite Resins on Color Match between Lithium Disilicate Dental Ceramic and Composite Resins

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of varying dentin and enamel layer thicknesses of two nano-composite resins on color match of composite resins and lithium disilicate dental ceramic. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six specimens of two types of nano-composite resins, Opallis and Vittra, were fabricated using the two-layered technique with different thickness ratios of enamel and dentin composites (A2 shade) with a total thickness of 1.2mm. Thirteen discs of the same shade and thickness of IPS e.max Press LT (low translucency) lithium disilicate dental ceramic were also fabricated. Specimen color was measured with a spectrophotometer. The difference in color (ΔE00) of composite and ceramic specimens, and the translucency parameter (TP) of all specimens were calculated. Data were analyzed using multi-factor ANOVA (P<0.05). Results: The color difference (ΔE00) values of composites and ceramic were not clinically acceptable in any areas of either of the two composites (ΔE00>2.25). But ΔE00 between the two composite resins was in the clinically acceptable range (ΔE00<2.25). The mean TP value of IPS e.max Press was greater than that of Vittra and lower than that of Opallis. Conclusion: In similar thicknesses, composite resins with any enamel/dentin thickness ratio could not successfully simulate the color and translucency of IPS e.max Press LT ceramic.

Design Equations for Mixed-Mode Fracture of Dental Ceramic-cement Interfaces Using the Brazil-nut-sandwich Test

Dental interfaces are subject to mixed-mode loading. This study provides a practical guidance for determining interfacial fracture toughness of dental ceramic systems. We address interfacial fracture of a composite resin cement sandwiched between two dental ceramic materials. Emphasis is placed on sandwich disc specimens with cracks originating from elliptical-shaped flaws near the center, for which analytical fracture mechanics methods fail to predict. The interaction integral method is used to provide accurate finite element solutions for cracks with elliptical-shaped flaws in a Brazil-nut-sandwich specimen. The developed model was first validated with existing experimental data, and then used to evaluate three most widely used dental ceramic systems: polycrystalline ceramics (zirconia), glass-ceramics (lithium disilicate), and feldspathic ceramics (porcelain). Contrary to disc specimens with ideal cracks, those with cracks emanating from elliptical-shaped flaws do not exhibit a monotonic increase in interfacial toughness. Also, interfacial fracture toughness is seen to have a direct relationship with the aspect ratio of elliptical-shaped flaws and an inverse relationship with the modulus ratio of the constituents. The presence of an elliptical-shaped flaw significantly changes the interfacial fracture behavior of sandwich structures. Semi-empirical design equations are provided for fracture toughness and stress intensity factors for interfacial cracks. The developed design equations provide a practical guidance for determining interfacial fracture toughness of selected dental ceramic material systems. Those equations take into account four critical factors: size of the elliptical flaw, modulus ratio of constituent materials, loading angle and applied load.

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Stress Distribution in a Tooth Restored with Full Coverage Machined Polymer Crown

The effect of a restored machined hybrid dental ceramic crown–tooth complex is not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the stress state of the machined hybrid dental ceramic crown using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Human premolars were prepared to receive full coverage crowns and restored with machined hybrid dental ceramic crowns using the resin cement. Then, the teeth were digitized using micro-computed tomography and the teeth were scanned with an optical intraoral scanner using an intraoral scanner. Three-dimensional digital models were generated using an interactive image processing software for the restored tooth complex. The generated models were imported into a finite element analysis software with all degrees of freedom concentrated on the outer surface of the root of the crown–tooth complex. To simulate average occlusal load subjected on a premolar a total load of 300 N was applied, 150 N at a buccal incline of the palatal cusp, and palatal incline of the buccal cusp. The von Mises stresses were calculated for the crown–tooth complex under simulated load application was determined. Three-dimensional finite element analysis showed that the stress distribution was more in the dentine and least in the cement. For the cement layer, the stresses were more concentrated on the buccal cusp tip. In dentine, stress was more on the cusp tips and coronal 1/3 of the root surface. The conventional crown preparation is a suitable option for machined polymer crowns with less stress distribution within the crown–tooth complex and can be a good aesthetic replacement in the posterior region. Enamic crowns are a good viable option in the posterior region.

Effects of Polishing versus Glazing on Dental Ceramic Wear: A Comparative In Vitro Study

This study analyzed the wear behavior caused by steatite antagonists to four dental ceramic materials, comparing this between two surface treatments: polishing and glazing. Methods: Thirty flat samples (10 × 8 × 2 mm) were prepared from each of four ceramics: IPS e. max CAD (IPS), GC Initial LiSi Press (LP), Vita Enamic (VE), and monolithic zirconia (MZ). Subgroups of samples were finished by polishing or glazing or neither (as controls). The samples were subjected to computer-controlled chewing simulation (240,000 cycles of 49 N at 1.6 Hz, with thermocycling at 5/55 C), with steatite balls as antagonists. The samples and antagonists were visualized before and after the test with a laser abrasion measurement system, a CAD/CAM scanner, and electron microscopy scanning, and the volumes lost from the tested samples and antagonists were analyzed. Results: For the MZ samples, the polished samples showed significantly less volume loss than the glazed samples (0.0200 mm3 vs. 0.0305 mm3; p =0.0001), whereas there was significantly greater antagonist volume loss (0.0365 mm3 vs. 0.0240 mm3; p = 0.011). There were no significant differences between the subgroups for IPS, VE, and LP, although antagonist volume losses were non-significantly greater with the glazed samples than with the polished samples. Conclusions: Polishing MZ had adverse effects on the corresponding antagonist wear. Glazed MZ showed the lowest antagonist wear.