Effect of abutment design on fracture resistance of resin-matrix ceramic crowns for dental implant restoration: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance and fracture resistance of different resin-matrix ceramic materials for use in implant-supported single crowns with respect to the abutment design (crown thickness: 1 mm, 2 and 3 mm). METHODS: Forty-eight abutments and crowns were fabricated on implants in the right lower first molar. Two resin-matrix ceramic materials for dental crowns were selected for study: (1) a glass-ceramic in a resin interpenetrating matrix (Vita Enamic, Vita, Germany) and (2) a resin-based composite with nanoparticle ceramic filler (Lava Ultimate, 3 M ESPE, USA). Three types of abutments were designed: 1 mm thick crown + custom titanium abutment, 2 mm thick crown + custom titanium abutment and 3 mm thick crown + prefabricated titanium abutment. The experiment was divided into 6 groups (n = 8) according to the crown materials and abutment designs. After 10,000 thermocycles, fracture resistance was measured using a universal testing machine. The statistical significance of differences between various groups were analysed with ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference test. The surfaces of the fractured specimens were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the abutment design (F = 28.44, P = 1.52 × 10- 8<0.001) and the crown materials (F = 4.37, P = 0.043 < 0.05) had a significant effect on the fracture resistance of implant crown restoration. The Lava Ultimate-2 mm group showed the highest fracture resistance of 2222.74 ± 320.36 N, and the Vita Enamic-3 mm group showed the lowest fracture resistance of 1204.96 ± 130.50 N. Most of the 1 and 2 mm groups had partial crown fractures that could be repaired directly with resin, while the 3 mm group had longitudinal fracture of the crown, and the crowns were detached from the abutments. CONCLUSION: Based on the in vitro data of this study, the fracture resistance of the 2 mm thick resin-matrix ceramic crown design was higher than that of the 1 and 3 mm groups. The 2 mm thick resin-matrix ceramic crown and personalized abutment are an option to replace zirconia for implant crown restoration.

Er:YAG laser removal of zirconia crowns on titanium abutment of dental implants: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to explore feasibility and the time required when erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser as a non-invasive treatment modality to retrieve different thicknesses of zirconia material bonded by two dental cements from titanium implant abutments. METHODS: Prepared 80 titanium blocks (length: 20 mm, width: 10 mm, height: 10 mm) and square zirconia sheets (length: 10 mm) with different thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm) were 20 pieces each. Resin modified glass ionomer cement (RelyX Luting 2; RXL) and resin cement (Clearfil SA luting; CSL) were used to bond zirconia sheet and titanium block. Specimens were kept in 100% humidity for 48 h. Er:YAG laser was used to retrieve the zirconia sheet and recorded the time. Universal testing machine was used to measure the residual adhesion of the samples that did not retrieve after 5 min of laser irradiation. Shear bond strength (MPa) and the time data (s) were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis Test. The bonding surface and the irradiation surface of the zirconia sheet was examined with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Within 5 min of laser irradiation, RXL group: 1 mm group all fell off, 2 mm group had 3 specimens did not fall off, there was no statistical difference in the average time between the two groups; CSL group: half of the 1 mm group fell off. Shear bond strength test results: there was no statistical difference between 1 and 2 mm in RXL group and 1 mm in CSL group, there was no statistical difference between 3 mm in RXL group and 2 mm in CSL group, and there were significant differences statistically in comparison between any two groups in the rest. SEM inspection showed that the bonding surface and the irradiation surface of the zirconia sheet had changes. CONCLUSION: In this vitro study, the following could be concluded: it is faster to remove zirconia crowns with thickness less than 2 mm from titanium abutment when luted with RelyX Luting 2 compared to Clearfil SA luting.

Case report: Fabrication of a dental implant guide based on tetrahedron positioning technology.

BACKGROUND: Conventional static computer-assisted implant surgery (s-CAIS) requires special equipment, such as 3D printers or computer numerical control (CNC) lathes. We present a low-cost workflow for manufacturing dental implant guides based on tetrahedron positioning technology (TPT). The aim of this case report was to use a surgical guide technique for dental implant placement using tetrahedron positioning technology. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old man consulted for the treatment of a missing right first mandibular molar by implant placement. The cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data were imported into medical image processing software for analysis, and the implant design was simulated. The implant design on CBCT was transferred to the mandibular model using TPT, and the implant surgical guide was made to guide the dental implant operation. CBCT was performed postoperatively and compared with the preoperative design to check the accuracy. The central deviation of the implant head was 0.31 mm, the central deviation of the implant apex was 0.93 mm, and the implant angular deviation was 2.45°. CONCLUSION: The use of tetrahedral positioning technology based on CBCT data is a new method for making implant guides. It is a promising technique offering a highly predictable outcome and lower risk of iatrogenic damage. However, these results should be interpreted with care since they are based on limited evidence from a case report. Larger population studies with longer follow-up periods and standardized experimental studies are required.

Mussel-Inspired Flexible, Wearable, and Self-Adhesive Conductive Hydrogels for Strain Sensors.

The latest generation of wearable devices features materials that are flexible, conductive, and stretchable, thus meeting the requirements of stability and reliability. However, the metal conductors that are currently used in various equipments cannot achieve these high performance expectations. Hence, a mussel-inspired conductive hydrogel (HAC-B-PAM) is prepared with a facile approach by employing polyacrylamide (PAM), dopamine-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HAC), borax as a dynamic cross-linker agent, and Li+ and Na+ as conductive ions. HAC-B-PAM hydrogels demonstrate an excellent stretchability (up to 2800%), high tensile toughness (42.4 kPa), self-adhesive properties (adhesion strength to porcine skin of 49.6 kPa), and good self-healing properties without any stimuli at room temperature. Furthermore, the fabricated hydrogel-based strain sensor is sensitive to deformation and can detect human body motion. Multifunctional hydrogels can be assembled into flexible wearable devices with potential applications in the field of electronic skin and soft robotics.

Effect of different restorative crown design and materials on stress distribution in endodontically treated molars: a finite element analysis study.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this simulation study were to evaluate the stresses in the roots of endodontically treated molars with extensive coronal tissue loss which were restored by endocrowns (all-in-one core and crown) and traditional crowns with post-cores, during masticatory simulation using finite element analysis. METHODS: A mesio-distal cross-section of a lower right first molar was digitized and used to create 2-dimensional models of the teeth and supporting tissue; different crown designs, viz., endocrown with 2 mm occlusal clearance, endocrown with 4 mm occlusal clearance and post-core crown; different crown materials, viz., zirconia (Zr) and lithia-disilicate reinforced glass ceramic (LDRGC), and different post and core materials, viz., glass fiber (GF), stainless steel (SS) and metal cast (MC). An axial load of 600 N was applied to the central fossa of occlusal surface. RESULTS: The stress distributions were similar between Zr and LDRGC for periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. The root canal inner wall maximum principal stresses of SS post (70.8 MPa) and MC post (71.4 MPa) were higher than that of GF post (36.0 MPa) and endocrown (2.4 MPa). CONCLUSION: The endocrowns reduced stress concentration for the root canal inner wall in comparison with the conventional post-core crown. Molars restored with endocrowns are less prone to root fracture than those with posts.

Effect of fiber post length and abutment height on fracture resistance of endodontically treated premolars prepared for zirconia crowns.

The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture resistance, mode of fracture, and stress distribution of endodontically treated teeth prepared with three different fiber post lengths and two different abutment heights, using both experimental and finite element (FE) approaches. Forty-eight human maxillary premolars with two roots were selected and endodontically treated. The teeth were randomly distributed into six equally sized groups (n = 8) with different combinations of post lengths (7.5, 11, and 15 mm) and abutment heights (3 and 5 mm). All the teeth restored with glass fiber post (Rely X Fiber Post, 3M ESPE, USA) and a full zirconia crown. All the specimens were thermocycled and then loaded to failure at an oblique angle of 135°. Statistical analysis was performed for the effects of post length and abutment height on failure loads using ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference test. In addition, corresponding FE models of a premolar restored with a glass fiber post were developed to examine mechanical responses. The factor of post length (P < 0.01) had a significant effect on failure load. The abutment height (P > 0.05) did not have a significant effect on failure load. The highest mean fracture resistance was recorded for the 15 mm post length and 5 mm abutment height test group, which was significantly more resistant to fracture than the 7.5 mm post and 5 mm abutment height group (P < 0.05). The FE analysis showed the peak compression and tension stress values of 7.5 mm post length were higher than that of 11 and 15 mm post length. The stress value of remaining tooth decreased as the post length was increased. Within the limitations of this experimental and FE analysis study, increasing the post length inside the root of endodontically treated premolar teeth restored with glass-fiber posts increase the fracture resistance to non-axial forces. Failure mode is more favorable with reduced abutment heights.

Structural stability of posterior retainer design for resin-bonded prostheses: a 3D finite element study.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the stress distribution and natural frequency of different shape and thickness retainer designs for maxillary posterior resin-bonded prostheses using finite element (FE) method. A 3D FE model of a three unit posterior resin-bonded prosthesis analysis model was generated. Three different shaped retainer designs, viz. C-shaped (three axial surface wraparounds), D-shaped (three axial surface wraparounds with central groove) and O-shaped (360° wraparounds), and three different thicknesses, viz., 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 mm, resin-bonded prostheses were used in this study. The resin-bonded prosthesis analysis model was imported into an FE analysis software (ANSYS 10.0, ANSYS, USA) and attribution of material properties. The nodes at the bottom surface of the roots were assigned fixed zero displacement in the three spatial dimensions. A simulated angle of 45° loading of a 100 N force was applied to the node of the pontic lingual cusp surface. The stress distributions and corresponding natural frequencies were analyzed and resolved. The C-shaped retainer for 0.4 mm thickness recorded the greatest von Mises stresses of 71.4 MPa for all three groups. C-shaped, D-shaped and O-shaped retainer presented natural frequencies 3,988, 7,754, and 10,494 Hz, respectively. D-shaped retainer and O-shaped retainer increased natural frequencies and structural rigidity over the traditional C-shaped retainer. The maximum von Mises stresses values of the remaining tooth and prosthesis decreased with greater retainer thickness. D-shaped retainer and O-shaped retainer increased natural frequencies and structural rigidity over the traditional C-shaped retainer.

Use of an intraoral scanner and CAD-CAM for simultaneous restoration with a personalized titanium post-core and a zirconia crown.

Customized posts-and-cores have been widely used for improved fitness within a prepared post space. However, in comparison to direct restoration, they necessitate an increased number of appointments for patients. A 24-year-old man presented with a maxillary left canine that had fractured due to trauma 10 months previously. For this case, a digital process was used for simultaneous restoration with a personalized titanium post-and-core and a zirconia crown achieved with an intraoral scanner (IOS) and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM). This workflow allowed the restoration to be completed in 2 visits, facilitating more effective and predictable treatment, with reduced time and cost for the patient.

Comparing accuracy after guide access and microscope-assisted access for fiber post removal.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the accuracy of the guide-supported and the microscope-assisted fiber post removal systems by using the extracted teeth. These new idea and theory can be used by clinicians to remove fiber posts. METHODS: Twenty-eight human extracted premolars were randomly divided into the guide and microscope groups. After root canal treatment and fiber post restoration, the fiber posts were removed by using a digital guide and via microscope-assisted ultrasonic instrument, respectively. Mimics 10.0 was used to measure the deviation, and the accuracy of the two fiber post removal systems were compared. RESULTS: In the guide group, the apical vertical deviation was 0.99 mm±0.52 mm, the apical horizontal deviation was 0.75 mm±0.19 mm, the angle deviation was 2.32°±0.64°, and the volume loss was 8.09 mm3±1.42 mm3. In the microscope group, the apical vertical deviation was 0.44 mm±0.23 mm, the apical horizontal deviation was 0.23 mm±0.07 mm, the angle deviation was 0.64°±0.31°, and the volume loss was 15.25 mm3±3.94 mm3. No significant difference was found in the apical vertical deviation between the two groups (P>0.05), whereas the apical horizontal deviation, the angle deviation, and the volume loss were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The removal of fiber post supported by a digital guide helped reduce the volume loss of post-core restoration teeth, but its accuracy was lower than that of removal by using a microscope-assisted ultrasonic instrument.

[Effect of occlusal thickness design on the fracture resistance of endocrowns restored with lithium disilicate ceramic and zirconia].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of occlusal thickness design on fracture resistance of endocrowns restored with lithium disilicate ceramic and zirconia. METHODS: A total of 24 artificial first mandibular molars were randomly divided into four groups with six teeth in each group as follows: group lithium disilicate ceramic-2 mm (lithium disilicate ceramic, with an occlusal thickness of 2 mm and a retainer length of 4 mm); group lithium disilicate ceramic-4 mm (lithium disilicate ceramic, with an occlusal thickness of 4 mm and a retainer length of 2 mm); group zirconia-2 mm (zirconia, with an occlusal thickness of 2 mm and a retainer length of 4 mm); and group zirconia-4 mm (zirconia, with an occlusal thickness of 4 mm and a retainer length of 2 mm). After adhesive cementation (RelyX Ultimate Clicker), all specimens were subjected to thermocycling (10 000 cycles). The specimens were subjected to fracture resistance testing at a 135° angle to the teeth at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm·min⁻¹ in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test by SPSS 15.0. The failure modes were classified. RESULTS: The fracture resistances of groups lithium disilicate ceramic-2 mm, lithium disilicate ceramic-4 mm, zirconia-2 mm, and zirconia-4 mm were (890.54±83.41), (2 320.87±728.57), (2 258.05±557.66), and (3 847.70±495.99) N respectively. Group zirconia-4 mm had the highest fracture resistance, whereas group lithium disilicate ceramic-2 mm had the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: The fracture resistance of molar endocrown with zirconia is higher than that with lithium disilicate ceramic. Increasing the occlusal thickness can improve the fracture resistance but increase the risk of fracture of abutment.

Catechol modified quaternized chitosan enhanced wet adhesive and antibacterial properties of injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel for wound healing.

Wound dressings based on injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel possess several advantages over preformed conventional dressings such as rapid reversible sol-gel transition behavior and the capacity of filling the irregular wound defect. Nevertheless, its clinical application is hindered by the weak tissue adhesiveness. Therefore, in this study, the catechol modified quaternized chitosan (QCS-C) was fabricated and incorporated into poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PLEL) hydrogel to develop an injectable hydrogel with the properties of thermo-sensitive, antibacterial and tissue adhesive. QCS-C could lower the LCST of hydrogel for easy gelation at physiological temperature, and significantly enhanced the tissue adhesion. For wound generation, nano-scaled bioactive glass (nBG：80 SiO2, 16 CaO and 4 P2O5; mol%) was loaded into hydrogel to promote angiogenesis. The mice partial laceration experiment showed that PLEL-nBG-QCS-C hydrogel could effectively seal the ruptured skin and significantly accelerate wound healing. Thus, our findings established a new type of clinical treatment technology for complicated wounds.

[Effects of universal adhesives and resin cement on the shear bond strength of zirconia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of universal adhesives and resin cement on the shear bond strength and durability of zirconia ceramics. METHODS: Zirconia ceramics were sintered into 20 mm×10 mm×10 mm and 10 mm×10 mm×10 mm specimens. The experiment was divided into 12 groups. The two types of specimens were bonded using two variants of resin cement (RelyX Ultimate and Clearfil SAC self-adhesive resin cement), universal adhesives (non-adhesive, Scotchbond uni-versal adhesive, and Clearfil SE One adhesive), and storage conditions (water bath and water bath-thermal cycling). The shear bond strengths were tested, and the fracture morphologies were analyzed. RESULTS: The cement (F=8.41, P<0.01) and adhesive (F=30.34, P<0.01) exerted a significant effect on the shear bond strength of zirconia, whereas storage condition showed no significant effect on this property (F=1.83, P=0.18). The lowest shear bond strength (14.02 MPa±6.86 MPa) was exhibited by the group treated with RelyX Ultimate resin cement, non-adhesive, and water bath-thermal cycling, whereas the highest shear bond strength (54.12 MPa±8.37 MPa) was displayed by the group treated with RelyX Ultimate resin cement, Scotchbond universal adhesive, and water bath-thermal cycling. CONCLUSIONS: Universal adhesives can improve the durability of the bonding of resin cement to zirconia. If non-self-adhesive resin cement is used without a universal adhe-sive, the durability of the bond will be greatly reduced.

A shear-thinning adhesive hydrogel reinforced by photo-initiated crosslinking as a fit-to-shape tissue sealant.

Surgical sealants suitable for wounds with non-flat complex geometries are still a challenge to fulfill clinical requirements. Herein, a novel fit-to-shape sealant enhanced by photo-initiated crosslinking was developed utilizing maleic anhydride modified chitosan (MCS), benzaldehyde-terminated PEG (PEGDF) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). Initially, the shear-thinning hydrogel prepared through the Schiff-base linkage between MCS and PEGDF could be injected into target sites, remolded to conform to a wound with non-flat complex geometry, and remain on the wound, avoiding adverse liquid leakage. Under illumination with ultra-violet (UV) light, the hydrogel was solidified in situ rapidly to adopt the wound contour and enhanced in adhesive strength to seal defects of the tissue. In addition, the hydrogel exhibits stability in extreme pH environments (pH = 1) and has potential to treat wounds inside the stomach with the existence of gastric acid. Moreover, the hydrogel can be applied as adhesive wound dressings through in situ 3D printing. Taken together, the fit-to-shape sealant enhanced by photo-initiated crosslinking can be considered as promising tissue adhesives for wound closure and other biomedical applications.

Fabrication of perfusable 3D hepatic lobule-like constructs through assembly of multiple cell type laden hydrogel microstructures.

The in vitro reproduction of three-dimensional (3D) cellular constructs to physiologically mimic human liver is highly desired for drug screening and clinical research. However, the fabrication of a liver-mimetic 3D model using traditional bottom-up technologies is challenging owing to the complex architecture and specific functions of real liver tissue. This work proposes a versatile strategy for spatially assembling gear-like microstructures encapsulating multiple cell types, and reorganizing them into 3D lobule-like micro-architecture with physiological relevance to native liver tissue. Gear-like microstructures were fabricated by photo-crosslinking poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel mixed with hepatocytes and fibroblasts, in a digital micromirror device (DMD)-based microfluidic channel. The microstructures were assembled through coordinated micromanipulation based on local fluid force, and spatially self-aligned through hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions into a 3D integrated construct with lobule-like morphology and a perfusable central lumen. The resulting 3D lobule-like constructs allowed long-term co-culture of hepatocytes and fibroblasts with high cell viability. The co-cultured constructs enhanced hepatocyte proliferation and spreading, as well as liver functions including a 50% increase in albumin secretion and urea synthesis. For hepatotoxicity assessment, the 3D lobule-like construct enabled drug perfusion through its built-in lumen for simulation of drug diffusion in the liver, which could improve the response sensitivity and efficiency to hepatotoxic drug. These results demonstrated that this method provides a valuable 3D co-culture model with perfusable lobule-like architecture and physiological functions, which has potential applications in drug discovery and tissue engineering applications.

Assembly of RGD-Modified Hydrogel Micromodules into Permeable Three-Dimensional Hollow Microtissues Mimicking in Vivo Tissue Structures.

Fabricated microscale tissues that replicate in vivo architectures have shown huge potential in regenerative medicine and drug discovery. Owing to the spatial organization of cell-encapsulated hydrogel microstructures, three-dimensional (3D) tissue structures have been broadly applied as novel pathological or pharmacological models. However, the spatial reorganization of arbitrary microstructures with tissue-specific shapes into 3D in vitro microtissues that mimic the physiological morphology and nutrient diffusion of native tissues presents a major challenge. Here, we develop a versatile method that engineers permeable 3D microtissues into tissue-specific microscopic architectures. The customized, arbitrarily shaped hollow micromodules are prepared by photocopolymerizing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) with acryloyl-PEG-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS). These micromodules are spatially reorganized and self-aligned by a facile assembly process based on hydrodynamic interactions, forming an integrated geometry with tissue-specific morphology and a vessel-mimetic lumen. The RGD linkages create cell-adhesive structures in the PEGDA hydrogel, greatly increasing the long-term cell viability in 3D microtissue cultures. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties for fast cell spreading inside the microstructures can be optimized by modulating the PEGDA concentration. The 3D microtissues, with their different geometries and permeable tubular lumens, maintained cell proliferation over 14 days. The cell viabilities exceeded 98%. We anticipate that our method will regenerate complex tissues with physiological importance in future tissue engineering.

Structure-Antibacterial Activity Relationships of Imidazolium-Type Ionic Liquid Monomers, Poly(ionic liquids) and Poly(ionic liquid) Membranes: Effect of Alkyl Chain Length and Cations.

The structure-antibacterial activity relationship between the small molecular compounds and polymers are still elusive. Here, imidazolium-type ionic liquid (IL) monomers and their corresponding poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) and poly(ionic liquid) membranes were synthesized. The effect of chemical structure, including carbon chain length of substitution at the N3 position and charge density of cations (mono- or bis-imidazolium) on the antimicrobial activities against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was investigated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The antibacterial activities of both ILs and PILs were improved with the increase of the alkyl chain length and higher charge density (bis-cations) of imidazolium cations. Moreover, PILs exhibited lower MIC values relative to the IL monomers. However, the antibacterial activities of PIL membranes showed no correlation to those of their analogous small molecule IL monomers and PILs, which increased with the charge density (bis-cations) while decreasing with the increase of alkyl chain length. The results indicated that antibacterial property studies on small molecules and homopolymers may not provide a solid basis for evaluating that in corresponding polymer membranes.

Effects of rotating fatigue on the mechanical properties of microhybrid and nanofiller-containing composites.

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the flexural strength and Vickers hardness of five nanofiller-containing composites (Filtek Supreme XT, Gradia Forte, Luna-Wing, GNH400N, GCUC) against five microhybrid composites (Meta Color Prime Art, Solidex, Estenia C&B, Ceramage, Clearfil Majesty) before and after rotating fatigue test (RFT). For each resin composite, 16 rectangular beam specimens (2 mm × 2 mm × 25 mm) were prepared and half of which were subjected to 1 × 10(4) cycles in RFT. Flexural strength was determined using a three-point bending test. Vickers hardness measurements were carried out on specimens which failed after the three-point bending test. When under the influence of rotating fatigue, the flexural strength of all composites was affected by multiple factors. In contrast, rotating fatigue had no significant influence on the Vickers hardness of both microhybrid and nanofiller-containing composites.

Finite element analysis to compare stress distribution of gold alloy, lithium-disilicate reinforced glass ceramic and zirconia based fixed partial denture.

AIM: Clinical data indicate that veneer chipping of zirconia core is more likely than with ceramic-fused-to-metal structures. The purposes of this simulation study were to: (a) use two-dimensional finite element modeling to simulate stresses at the interface of three-unit posterior fixed partial dentures (FPDs) made with three different core materials; and (b) to investigate the influence of three different veneer thicknesses on the stress distribution within the veneer-core complex. METHODS: A mesio-distal cross-section of a three-unit FPD was digitized and used to create two-dimensional models of the teeth, supporting bone, different core materials (gold alloy, zirconia and lithia-disilicate reinforced glass ceramic), and different pontic preparation configurations (occlusal veneer thickness 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm). A simulated 100 N vertical occlusal load was applied to the standardized pontic element. Compression stress and tensile stress values were calculated by finite element analysis along the veneer-core interface and compared. RESULTS: The veneer-core interfacial stress of zirconia-based FPD is greater than that of gold alloy and lithium-disilicate reinforced glass ceramic core. The veneer-core interface stress value decreased with increasing occlusal veneer thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Finite element modeling revealed differences in tensile and compressive stresses between different pontic preparation configurations and core materials. In general, gold alloy and lithium-disilicate reinforced glass ceramic core provided more even stress distribution at the connector and pontic of fixed partial denture than a zirconia framework.

[Quantitative study on occlusal balance of normal occlusion in intercuspal position].

OBJECTIVE: To assess occlusal balance of normal occlusion in intercuspal position with maximal bite force. METHODS: Maximal bite force was recorded in intercuspal position by use of T-Scan II system from 123 subjects with normal intact dentitions. Occlusal balance of normal occlusion was quantitatively analyzed from center of force, percentage of bite force, and occlusal contacts. RESULTS: The relative position of the center of bite force, the difference in bilateral force percentage, and unsymmetrical coefficient followed normal distributions. The 95% reference ranges for corresponding testing items were -6.60 to 6.68 mm, -15.50% to 12.10%, and 0.65 to 1.39. There was no statistic difference (P = 0.915) in occlusal contacts between left and right sides. The 98.4% of normal occlusion subjects had the center of bite force locating in posterior region of dentition when biting with maximal force in intercuspal position. CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal balance could be evaluated by T-Scan II system. Occlusion of normal subjects biting with maximal force was stable and bilaterally balanced in intercuspal position.