Abstract This study aimed to investigate the failure behavior of 3 mol.% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) prosthetic crowns air-abraded with aluminum oxide (AO) particles of different sizes. Ninety ceramic premolar crowns were produced with 3Y-TZP frameworks veneered with porcelain. Crowns were randomly divided into three groups, according to the size of the air abrasion AO particles (n = 30): (GC) untreated (control); (G53) 53 µm; (G125) 125 µm. Air abrasion was performed with 0.25 mpa pressure, 10-mm distance, for 10 s. Crowns were adhesively cemented to dentin analog abutments. Specimens were loaded in compression to failure, in 37oC distilled water, using a universal testing machine (n = 30). Fractographic analysis was performed using a stereomicroscope and SEM. The roughness of the crown’s inner surface was evaluated using an optical profilometer (n = 10). Fracture load data were statistically analyzed with Weibull analysis and roughness data with Kruskal-Wallis (α = 0.05). GC had the lowest characteristic fracture load (L0), while G53 and G125 had higher and statistically similar L0 values. The Weibull modulus (m) was similar among groups. The failure modes observed were catastrophic failure and porcelain chipping. There were no differences between the roughness parameters for the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The size of the AO particles did not affect the fracture load and failure mode of 3Y-TZP crowns. Air abrasion with 53 µm and 125 µm particles resulted in a higher fracture load of ceramic crowns than the untreated group while maintaining their reliability and surface characteristics.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito do jateamento com óxido de alumínio (AO) com diferentes tamanhos de partículas no comportamento de fratura de coroas protéticas de zircônia tetragonal estabilizada com 3 mol% de ítria (3Y-TZP). Noventa coroas cerâmicas de pré-molares foram produzidas com infraestruturas de 3Y-TZP recobertas com porcelana. As coroas foram divididas aleatoriamente em três grupos, de acordo com o tamanho das partículas de AO do jateamento (n = 30): (GC) não tratada (controle); (G53) 53 µm; (G125) 125 µm. O jateamento foi realizado com pressão de 0,25 MPa, distância de 10 mm, por 10 s. As coroas foram cimentadas adesivamente em pilares análogos à dentina. As coroas foram testadas em compressão até a falha, em água destilada a 37ºC, usando uma máquina universal de ensaios (n = 30). A análise fractográfica foi realizada usando estereomicroscópio e MEV. A rugosidade da superfície interna das coroas foi avaliada usando um perfilômetro óptico (n = 10). Os dados de carga de fratura foram analisados estatisticamente com análise de Weibull e os dados de rugosidade com Kruskal-Wallis (( = 0,05). GC apresentou a menor carga característica de fratura (L0), enquanto G53 e G125 apresentaram valores de L0 maiores e estatisticamente semelhantes. O módulo de Weibull (m) foi semelhante entre os grupos. Os modos de falha observados foram falha catastrófica e lascamento da porcelana. Não houve diferenças entre os parâmetros de rugosidade para os grupos experimentais (p > 0,05). O tamanho das partículas de AO não afetou a carga de fratura e o modo de falha das coroas 3Y-TZP. O jateamento com partículas de 53 µm e 125 µm resultou em maior carga de fratura das coroas cerâmicas do que o grupo não tratado, mantendo sua confiabilidade e características de superfície.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou a carga de fratura (Cf) e o modo de falha de estruturas cerâmicas fabricadas pela técnica CAD-on (Ivoclar Vivadent), testando as hipóteses de que a Cf das estruturas multicamadas é governada pela resistência da cerâmica de cobertura e o lascamento é mais frequente nas estruturas em multicamadas do que em monolíticas. Corpos de prova no formato de disco formam fabricados da seguinte forma: CAD-on- estrutura de 3 camadas composta por infraestrutura de Y-TZP (zircônia tetragonal parcialmente estabilizada por ítria - IPS e.max ZirCAD), vidro de fusão (IPS e.max CAD Crystall/Connect) e cobertura de cerâmica vítrea a base de dissilicato de lítio (IPS e.max CAD); YLD- estrutura de 2 camadas composta por infraestrutura de Y-TZP e cobertura de cerâmica (IPS e.max Ceram); LDC- monolítico em cerâmica vítrea a base de dissilicato de lítio (IPS e.max CAD); e YZW- monolítico em Y-TZP (Zenostar Zr Translucent). Os corpos de prova foram testados sob carga de compressão até a falha e as fraturas avaliadas seguindo os princípios da fractografia. Os valores de Lf foram analisados estatisticamente usando as estatísticas de Weibull, Kruskal-Wallis e Dunn (a = 0,05). YZW (1329 N) e CAD-on (1085 N) apresentaram os maiores valores medianos de Cf, seguidos por YLD (832 N) e LDC (421 N). Todas as estruturas monolíticas (LDC e YZW) fraturaram catastroficamente e todas as estruturas YLD falharam por lascamento. A técnica CAD-on parece ser um processo de fabricação bastante promissor pois mostrou alta Cf, similar a zircônia monolítica, e baixa taxa de lascamento.

Abstract This study evaluated the fracture load (Lf) and the failure mode of CAD-on (Ivoclar Vivadent) ceramic structures, testing the hypotheses that Lf of multilayer structures is governed by the veneering ceramic strength and that chipping is more frequent in multilayer than monolithic structures. Disc-shaped specimens were fabricated as follows: CAD-on- trilayer structure composed of Y-TZP (yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal- IPS e.max ZirCAD) infrastructure, fusion glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD Crystall/Connect) and lithium disilicate-based glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD); YLD- bilayer structure composed of Y-TZP infrastructure and fluorapatite layering ceramic (IPS e.max Ceram); LDC- monolithic lithium-disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD); and YZW- monolithic Y-TZP (Zenostar Zr Translucent). The specimens were loaded in compression until failure and fracture surfaces were evaluated using fractographic principles. Lf values were statistically analyzed using the Weibull statistics, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (a= 0.05). YZW (1329 N) and CAD-on (1085 N) showed the greatest Lf median values, followed by YLD (832 N) and LDC (421 N). All monolithic structures (LDC and YZW) fractured catastrophically and all YLD structures failed by chipping. The CAD-on technique seems to be a very promising fabrication process because it showed high Lf, similar to monolithic zirconia, and small chipping rate.

The objective of the study was to measure the marginal and internal fit of zirconia-based all-ceramic three-unit fixed partial dentures (FPDs) (Y-TZP - LAVA, 3M-ESPE), using a novel methodology based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) technology. Stainless steel models of prepared abutments were fabricated to design FPDs. Ten frameworks were produced with 9 mm2 connector cross-sections using a LAVATM CAD-CAM system. All FPDs were veneered with a compatible porcelain. Each FPD was seated on the original model and scanned using micro-CT. Files were processed using NRecon and CTAn software. Adobe Photoshop and Image J software were used to analyze the cross-sectional images. Five measuring points were selected, as follows: MG - marginal gap; CA - chamfer area; AW - axial wall; AOT - axio-occlusal transition area; OA - occlusal area. Results were statistically analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis and Tukey's post hoc test (α= 0.05). There were significant differences for the gap width between the measurement points evaluated. MG showed the smallest median gap width (42 µm). OA had the highest median gap dimension (125 µm), followed by the AOT point (105 µm). CA and AW gap width values were statistically similar, 66 and 65 µm respectively. Thus, it was possible to conclude that different levels of adaptation were observed within the FPD, at the different measuring points. In addition, the micro-CT technology seems to be a reliable tool to evaluate the fit of dental restorations.