The effect of core:dentin thickness ratio on the bi-axial flexure strength and fracture mode and origin of bilayered dental ceramic composites.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of core:dentin thickness ratio on the flexure strength, fracture mode and origin of bilayered dental ceramic composite disc specimens. METHODS: Sets of 30 bilayered composite discs with core:dentin thickness ratio of 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 were tested in bi-axial flexure with both the reinforcing core and veneering dentin loaded in tension. Mean flexure strengths, standard deviations and associated Weibull Moduli (m) were determined. A combination of optical and scanning electron microscopy was employed for identification of the fracture mode and origin. RESULTS: The core:dentin ratio influenced the bi-axial flexure strength and reliability of the flexure strength data when both the reinforcing core and veneering dentin porcelain were tested in tension. The strength and reliability was increased for a core:dentin thickness of 2:1. The number of fracture fragments, the frequency of occurrence of specimen delaminations, Hertzian cone formations and sub-critical radial cracking in the bilayered dental ceramic composite disc shaped specimens was also dependent on the core/dentin ratio and the surface loaded in tension. CONCLUSIONS: Core:dentin thickness ratio influences the bi-axial flexure strength and fracture mode and origin in bilayered dental ceramic composite specimens.

The influence of interfacial surface roughness on bilayered ceramic specimen performance.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to assess the influence of interfacial surface roughness on the performance of bilayered ceramic composite disc-shaped specimens. METHODS: Specific surface flaw distributions were introduced to a series of standard aluminous core porcelain disc specimens (12 mm diameter, 1.7 mm thickness) prior to bilayering with dentin porcelain. Mean flexure strengths, standard deviations and associated Weibull moduli (m) were determined using bi-axial flexure (ball-on-ring) for each series of 30 bilayered specimens. RESULTS: The mean bi-axial fracture strengths of bilayered specimens resulted in significant differences between specimen groups with the smoothest interfacial roughness recording the highest strength and fracture strength reliability. Specimen delamination was identified in five of the bilayered group with the smoothest interfacial roughness compared with no specimen delaminations in the rougher interface groups. However, fracture occurred in the weaker dentin layer rather than along the interface between the dentin and core porcelain for specimens in these rougher interface groups. CONCLUSIONS: A smoother interfacial surface roughness resulted in increased performance, namely increased strength and reliability amongst the bilayered dental ceramic composite specimens examined in the current investigation. The incidence of complete or partial delamination of the reinforcing core and aesthetic dentin was increased for these specimens since the reduced tortuosity of the interface between porcelain layers fails to restrict propagation of a crack front along the interface.