The failure load of CAD/CAM generated zirconia and glass-ceramic laminate veneers with different preparation designs.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Fracture of feldspathic porcelain laminate veneers represents a significant mode of clinical failure. Therefore, ceramic materials that withstand a higher load to fracture, especially for patients with parafunctional habits, are needed.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of material (zirconia, TZP, glass-ceramic, IEC, and feldspathic porcelain, FP) design (incisal overlapped preparation, IOP, and three-quarter preparation, TQP), and fracture mode to failure load for veneers supported by composite resin abutments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A typodont tooth prepared with 2 designs (IOP, TQP) and the corresponding 2 definitive dies were used to fabricate the composite resin abutments (30 for IOP and 30 for TQP). Ten veneer specimens for each system (Y-TZP, IEC, and FP), were fabricated for each design. The veneers were cemented, invested, and tested in compression until failure by using a universal testing machine. Significant differences were evaluated by 2-factor ANOVA (α=.05).

RESULTS: No statistical mean load difference was noted between the preparation designs for Y-TZP (IOP: 244 ±81 and TQP: 224 ±58 N), IEC (IOP: 306 ±101 and TQP: 263 ±77 N), and FP veneers (IOP: 161 ±93 and TQP: 246 ±45 N). No statistical difference in the mean load was found among the 3 veneer materials for each preparation design except between IEC (306 ±101 N) and FP (161 ±93 N) veneers for TQP.

CONCLUSIONS: Preparation design did not influence the failure load of the veneer materials. Zirconia veneers were the least likely to fracture but the most likely to completely debond; feldspathic porcelain veneers exhibited the opposite characteristics.