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Ever faster workflows for the fabrication of all-ceramic restorations are of high economic interest. For that purpose, sintering protocols have been optimized for use in modern sintering furnaces, the so-called speed-sintering. However, conventional furnaces are still the most widely used equipment to sinter zirconia restorations. In this in-vitro study, we evaluated the feasibility of a speed-sintering protocol using a conventional sintering furnace to sinter different dental zirconias (stabilized with 3 mol% up to 5.4 mol% Y 2 O 3 ) in comparison to a conventional sintering program. The properties evaluated were Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, density, biaxial flexural strength, and fracture toughness. We show here that despite differences being dependent on material, the physical and mechanical properties of speed-sintered zirconia are comparable to those obtained by the conventional sintering., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the mechanical stability of bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) and Ormocer-based resin composites before and after water absorption and to examine water saturation., Material and Methods: Disc-shaped specimens of the Bis-GMA (Grandio SO, Voco) and the Ormocer-based (Admira Fusion, Voco) dental resin composites were produced, stored in water, and weighed after pre-determined times to measure the absorbed water. Bend bars were produced and stored for 24 h in dry conditions as well as in distilled water for 14 days or 60 days at 37 °C. The initial flexural strength (FS) under quasi-static loading and flexural fatigue strength (FFS) under cyclic loading were determined under 4-point bending. Fracture toughness (K Ic ) of both composites was measured using the single-edge-V-notch-beam (SEVNB) technique after the same storage conditions under 3-point bending., Results: Within the first 14 days, storage conditions did not affect the initial FS of Grandio SO, while a significant drop in initial FS was observed for Admira Fusion after 2 weeks in water and most of the water was absorbed within this time. FFS for the Bis-GMA composite was not reduced before 2 months in water, whereas for the Ormocer®-based composite, there has been a significant decrease in strength after cyclic fatigue already at 2 weeks of water storage. K Ic  of Admira Fusion decreased significantly after both storage periods, while K Ic  of Grandio SO decreased only significantly after 2 weeks of water storage., Conclusion: All mechanical properties of the Bis-GMA composite were superior to those of the Ormocer®-based material, except water sorption., Clinical Significance: Water storage seems to have a much more pronounced effect on the mechanical properties of Ormocer®-based dental composites in comparison to Bis-GMA-based composites.

Objectives: Chemical and mechanical degradation play a key role on the lifetime of dental restorative materials. Therefore, prediction of their long-term performance in the oral environment should base on fatigue, rather than inert strength data, as commonly observed in the dental material's field. The objective of the present study was to provide mechanistic fatigue parameters of current dental CAD/CAM materials under cyclic biaxial flexure and assess their suitability in predicting clinical fracture behaviors., Methods: Eight CAD/CAM materials, including polycrystalline zirconia (IPS e.max ZirCAD), reinforced glasses (Vitablocs Mark II, IPS Empress CAD), glass-ceramics (IPS e.max CAD, Suprinity PC, Celtra Duo), as well as hybrid materials (Enamic, Lava Ultimate) were evaluated. Rectangular plates (12×12×1.2mm 3 ) with highly polished surfaces were prepared and tested in biaxial cyclic fatigue in water until fracture using the Ball-on-Three-Balls (B3B) test. Cyclic fatigue parameters n and A* were obtained from the lifetime data for each material and further used to build SPT diagrams. The latter were used to compare in-vitro with in-vivo fracture distributions for IPS e.max CAD and IPS Empress CAD., Results: Susceptibility to subcritical crack growth under cyclic loading was observed for all materials, being more severe (n≤20) in lithium-based glass-ceramics and Vitablocs Mark II. Strength degradations of 40% up to 60% were predicted after only 1 year of service. Threshold stress intensity factors (K th ) representing the onset of subcritical crack growth (SCG), were estimated to lie in the range of 0.37-0.44 of K Ic for the lithium-based glass-ceramics and Vitablocs Mark II and between 0.51-0.59 of K Ic for the other materials. Failure distributions associated with mechanistic estimations of strength degradation in-vitro showed to be useful in interpreting failure behavior in-vivo. The parameter K th stood out as a better predictor of clinical performance in detriment to the SCG n parameter., Significance: Fatigue parameters obtained from cyclic loading experiments are more reliable predictors of the mechanical performance of contemporary dental CAD/CAM restoratives than quasi-static mechanical properties., (Copyright © 2018 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: An important tool in materials research, development and characterization regarding mechanical performance is the testing of fracture toughness. A high level of accuracy in executing this sort of test is necessary, with strict requirements given in extensive testing standard documents. Proficiency in quality specimen fabrication and test requires practice and a solid theoretical background, oftentimes overlooked in the dental community., Aims: In this review we go through some fundamentals of the fracture mechanics concepts that are relevant to the understanding of fracture toughness testing, and draw attention to critical aspects of practical nature that must be fulfilled for validity and accuracy in results. We describe our experience with some testing methodologies for CAD/CAM materials and discuss advantages and shortcomings of different tests in terms of errors in testing the applicability of the concept of fracture toughness as a single-value material-specific property., (Copyright © 2017 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: A deeper understanding of the mechanical behavior of dental restorative materials requires an insight into the materials elastic constants and microstructure. Here we aim to use complementary methodologies to thoroughly characterize chairside CAD/CAM materials and discuss the benefits and limitations of different analytical strategies., Methods: Eight commercial CAM/CAM materials, ranging from polycrystalline zirconia (e.max ZirCAD, Ivoclar-Vivadent), reinforced glasses (Vitablocs Mark II, VITA; Empress CAD, Ivoclar-Vivadent) and glass-ceramics (e.max CAD, Ivoclar-Vivadent; Suprinity, VITA; Celtra Duo, Dentsply) to hybrid materials (Enamic, VITA; Lava Ultimate, 3M ESPE) have been selected. Elastic constants were evaluated using three methods: Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS), Resonant Beam Technique (RBT) and Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo (PE). The microstructures were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction (XRD)., Results: Young's modulus (E), Shear modulus (G), Bulk modulus (B) and Poisson's ratio (ν) were obtained for each material. E and ν reached values ranging from 10.9 (Lava Ultimate) to 201.4 (e.max ZirCAD) and 0.173 (Empress CAD) to 0.47 (Lava Ultimate), respectively. RUS showed to be the most complex and reliable method, while the PE method the easiest to perform but most unreliable. All dynamic methods have shown limitations in measuring the elastic constants of materials showing high damping behavior (hybrid materials). SEM images, Raman spectra and XRD patterns were made available for each material, showing to be complementary tools in the characterization of their crystal phases., Significance: Here different methodologies are compared for the measurement of elastic constants and microstructural characterization of CAD/CAM restorative materials. The elastic properties and crystal phases of eight materials are herein fully characterized., (Copyright © 2016 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The gathering of clinical data on fractures of dental restorations through prospective clinical trials is a labor- and time-consuming enterprise. Here, we propose an unconventional approach for collecting large datasets, from which clinical information on indirect restorations can be retrospectively analyzed. The authors accessed the database of an industry-scale machining center in Germany and obtained information on 34,911 computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) all-ceramic posterior restorations. The fractures of bridges, crowns, onlays, and inlays fabricated from different all-ceramic systems over a period of 3.5 y were reported by dentists and entered in the database. Survival analyses and estimations of future life revealed differences in performance among ZrO2-based restorations and lithium disilicate and leucite-reinforced glass-ceramics., (© International & American Associations for Dental Research 2015.)

Aim: This was to evaluate the wear resistance of different materials, compomers, resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs), glass ionomer cements (GICs), used for posterior restorations in primary teeth and to compare the results with the reference material, amalgam., Study Design: Eight specimens of each material were subjected to two-body wear test, using a chewing simulator. The wear region of each material was examined under a profilometer, measuring the vertical loss (μm) and the volume loss (mm(3)) of the materials., Results: The results showed significant differences of vertical loss and volume loss of the test materials (p < 0.001). Amalgam had the highest wear resistance. Twinky Star (compomer) had the lowest vertical loss and volume loss. There was no significant difference of vertical loss among compomers, Dyract Extra, Dyract Flow and Dyract Posterior. Riva Self Cure (GIC) had no statistically significant difference compared with the compomers (except Twinky Star). No statistically significant difference was found also between Equia (GIC) and Ketac Moral (GIC) with Dyract Extra (Compomer). RMGICs were found to have the lowest wear resistance., Statistics: For the statistical analysis, the PASW 20.0 (SPSS Statistics, IBM, Chicago) package was used. Means and standard deviations were measured with descriptive statistics and analyzed using one-way ANOVA., Conclusion: Compomers and some GICs, that have moderate wear resistance, may be sufficient for occlusal restorations in primary dentitions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the linear elastic material properties of direct dental resin composites and correlate them with their fatigue strength under cyclic loading., Methods: Bar specimens of twelve resin composites were produced according to ISO 4049 and tested for elastic modulus (Emod) in 3-point bending (n=10), flexural strength (FS) (n=15) and single-edge-notch-beam fracture toughness (FT) (n=15), both in 4-point bending. Using the same specimen geometry, the flexural fatigue strength (FFS) was determined using the staircase approach after 10(4) cycles at 0.5 Hz in 4-point bending (n=25). The observation of the fracture surface and fracture profiles was conducted using a scanning electron microscope in order to evaluate the respective fracture mechanisms according to the two different loading conditions., Results: Materials were ranked differently according to the tested parameters. Only weak correlations were found between any of the initial properties and FFS or strength loss. The best correlation to FFS was found to be the Emod (r(2)=0.679), although only slightly. Crack path in both loading conditions was mainly interparticle, with the crack propagating mainly within the matrix phase for fatigued specimens and eventually through the filler/matrix interface for statically loaded specimens. Fracture of large particles or prepolymerized fillers was only observed in specimens of FS and FT. Initial properties were better associated with microstructural features, whereas the fatigue resistance showed to be more dependent on aspects relating to the matrix phase., Significance: Our results show that linear elastic properties such as elastic modulus, flexural strength and fracture toughness are not good descriptors of the fatigue resistance of dental resin composite under cyclic bending, and may therefore have limited clinical relevance., (Copyright © 2014 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate the adhesive potential of novel zirconia primers and universal adhesives to surface-treated zirconia substrates., Methods: Zirconia bars were manufactured (3.0mm×3.0mm×9.0mm) and treated as follows: no treatment (C); air abrasion with 35μm alumina particles (S); air abrasion with 30μm silica particles using one of two systems (Rocatec or SilJet) and; glazing (G). Groups C and S were subsequentially treated with one of the following primers or adhesives: ZP (Z-Prime Plus), AZ (AZ Primer); MP (Monobond Plus); SU (ScotchBond Universal) and; EA (an Experimental Adhesive). Groups Rocatec and SilJet were silanized prior to cementation. Samples form group G were further etched and silanized. Bars were cemented (Multilink) onto bars of a silicate-based ceramic (3.0mm×3.0mm×9.0mm) at 90° angle, thermocycled (2.500 cycles, 5-55°C, 30s dwell time), and tested in tensile strength test. Failure analysis was performed on fractured specimens to measure the bonding area and crack origin., Results: Specimens from group C did not survive thermocycling, while CMP, CSU and CEA groups survived thermocycling but rendered low values of bond strength. All primers presented a better bond performance after air abrasion with Al2O3 particles. SilJet was similar to Rocatec, both presenting the best bond strength results, along with SMP, SSU and CEA. G promoted intermediate bond strength values. Failure mode was predominately adhesive on zirconia surface combined to cohesive of the luting agent., Conclusions: Universal adhesives (MP, SU, EA) may be a considerable alternative for bonding to zirconia, but air abrasion is still previously required. Air abrasion with silica particles followed by silane application also presented high bond strength values., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The design of clinical trials allows for limited insights into the fatigue processes occurring in resin composites and the factors involved therein. In vitro studies, in contrast, can fundamentally narrow study interests to focus on particular degradation mechanisms and, to date, represent the major contributors to the state of knowledge on the subject. These studies show that microstructural features are important in determining strength and fracture toughness, whereas fatigue resistance is mainly related to the susceptibility of the matrix and the filler/matrix interface to mechanical and chemical degradation. In this review, we focus on fracture mechanisms occurring during fatigue, on the methods used to assess them, and on additional phenomena involved in the degradation of initial mechanical properties of resin composites.

This study evaluated the degree of conversion (%DC) of luting agents around ceramic inlays placed in deep natural cavities. Thirty-six cylindrical Class I cavities (diameter = 4 mm, depth = 4 mm) were prepared in freshly extracted human teeth and randomly divided according to the luting materials used for luting CAD/CAM fabricated inlays (Empress CAD). The dual-cure resin cements Clearfil Esthetic Cement and Variolink II Low and the light-cure composites Grandio Flow and Grandio were luted using the total-etch technique. The self-adhesive dual-cure cements RelyX Unicem and Maxcem Elite were used as recommended by the manufacturer. All of the restorations were photo-activated using a quartz halogen unit (Elipar TriLight; 750 mW/cm² for 40 seconds. After 24 hour dry-storage in the dark, all the teeth were vertically sectioned into two halves (n=12 per group) using a slow-speed diamond-saw in the bucco-vestibular direction under constant water lubrication to avoid specimen heating. The DC of the luting materials was measured by vibrational spectroscopy using a μ-Raman spectrometer at depths of 1, 3 and 4 nun on each side of the tooth halves (n=24). Disc-shaped samples were produced for measurement of the maximum %DC of each material. Two-way ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc test were used in the statistical analysis (α=0.05). All the materials showed no statistical differences in degree of conversion at all tested depths, except for Grandio Flow and Maxcem Elite. Dual-cure and light-cure luting materials showed polymerization homogeneity around ceramic inlays, although dual-cure conventional resin cements tended to show an overall higher conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Against a hard antagonist, glass-ceramics exhibit moderate wear but extensive subsurface fracture. • Resin composites show large wear craters with the absence of subsurface damage. • The polymer-infiltrated reinforced-glass material displays large wear craters and severe subsurface damage. • Under extreme occlusal loading, restoration failure can occur from excessive wear, as well as by fracture and chipping. Most previous work conducted on the wear behavior of dental materials has focused on wear rates and surface damage. There is, however, scarce information regarding the subsurface damage arising from sliding contact fatigue. The aim of this study was to elucidate the wear mechanisms and the subsurface damage generated during sliding contact fatigue in 5 contemporary CAD/CAM materials against a zirconia indenter. Forty discs (Ø12 mm, 1.55 mm thick) were cut out of IPS e.max CAD (e.CAD), Suprinity PC (SUP), Enamic (ENA), Vitablocs Mark II (VMII) and Lava Ultimate (LU) blocks and mirror polished. After cementation onto a dentin-like composite, off-axis mouth-motion cycling was conducted with a spherical zirconia indenter (r = 3.18 mm) in water (200 N load, 2 Hz frequency) for 5 different cycling periods (102, 103, 104, 105, 106 cycles, n = 8). Analysis of the wear scars was conducted using light-microscopy, scanning-electron-microscopy and optical profilometry. Subsurface damage was assessed using sagittal and transverse sections of the samples. Fatigue wear mechanisms predominated in glassy materials (e.CAD, SUP, VMII), accompanied by extensive subsurface damage, whereas abrasive wear mechanisms were responsible for the large wear craters in the resin composite (LU) with an absolute absence of subsurface fracture. A combination of both mechanisms was observed in the polymer-infiltrated reinforced-glass (ENA), displaying large wear craters and severe subsurface damage. Well-controlled laboratory simulation can identify wear and subsurface damage susceptibility of various classes of restorative materials. Both wear and subsurface fracture are determining factors for the long-term success of restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]