Fracture load of three-unit full-contour fixed dental prostheses fabricated with subtractive and additive CAD/CAM technology

The aim of this study was to test the fracture load of ceramic and composite three-unit full-contour fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated with additive and subtractive computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology. A newly developed alveolar socket replica model for a three-unit FDP replacing one molar was used in this study. Five CAD/CAM materials were used for fabrication of three-unit FDPs (each n = 12). The subtractive CAD/CAM fabrication method was used for groups BC (BRILLIANT Crios), TC (Telio CAD), EX (e.max CAD), and TZ (inCoris TZI C), and the additive method was used for group 3D (els 3D resin even stronger). FDPs were adhesively seated to the abutment dies (PANAVIA V5 system). Thermomechanical loading was performed prior to fracture testing with a universal testing machine. The data for maximum fracture load values was analyzed with one-way ANOVA and post hoc Scheffe test (α = 0.05). All FDPs survived the thermomechanical loading test. Statistically significant differences were found for the fracture load of three-unit FDPs fabricated from different CAD/CAM materials (p