Biaxial flexure strength and physicochemical characterization of a CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramic: effect of etching time, silane, and adhesive applications.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of different acid etching time and bonding agent (silane and/or adhesive system) on biaxial flexural strength and physico-chemical properties of a lithium disilicate ceramic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred twenty ceramic discs were made and divided into 8 groups (n = 15) according to factors "etching time" (20 and 120 s) with hydrofluoric acid (HF) and "bonding agent" (C, no bonding agent; S, silane, A, adhesive; and SA, silane + adhesive). After surface treatment, a resin cement layer was applied to the surface and all specimens were subjected to biaxial flexural strength (BFS) test with treated surfaces loaded in tension (1 mm/min). The Weibull analyses and complementary analyses were also performed. Statistical analysis was done with 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: ANOVA revealed that the factors "etching time" (p = 0.0003) and "bonding agent" (p = 0.007) were statistically significant. In the overall analysis, the HF120S group (272.02 ± 35.30A MPa) presented significantly higher BFS than that of HF120C (218.45 ± 17.15CD MPa) and HF20S (228.40 ± 37.83BCDMPa). On the other hand, the HF20A group (208.92 ± 31.16D MPa) had significantly lower BFS than HF120S (272.02 ± 35.30A), HF120A (254.42 ± 26.87ABC) and HF120SA (259.30 ± 36.55AB) groups (Tukey). The Weibull modulus (m) of all groups was significantly different from each other (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of etching time, the application of silane alone is sufficient to increase the flexural strength of glass ceramic, eliminating the need for the application of adhesive systems. Moreover, if only silane or adhesive is applied, 120-s HF application should increase the flexural resistance of the lithium disilicate ceramic. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Applications of adhesive systems after silanization can be suppressed from the surface treatment protocol of glass ceramics, since it does not improve their mechanical strength.

Extended glaze firings for porcelain-veneered zirconia: Effects on the mechanical and optical behavior.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of dwell time (conventional or extended) and cooling protocol (fast or slow) of self-glaze firings on the mechanical (flexural strength and crack propagation) and optical (color and translucency) properties of a porcelain-veneered zirconia system. METHODS: Bilayer disc-shaped samples were prepared (Vita VM9 + In-Ceram YZ) and divided according to the final thermal treatment: glaze firing followed by slow cooling (furnace opening at 200 °C) (G-S) or fast cooling (furnace opening at 600 °C) (G-F, manufacturer-recommended protocol), extended glaze firing (15 min of dwell time) followed by slow cooling (EG-S) or fast cooling (EG-F), or no thermal treatment (CTRL). Porcelain roughness (Ra and Rz) was measured before and after glaze firings. Color (ΔE00) and translucency (TP00) alteration were also evaluated. Flexural strength was measured with the piston-on-three-ball test and crack propagation analysis was performed after Vickers indentations. Complementary analyzes of crystalline phase and scanning electron microscopy were carried out. RESULTS: Significant effect of dwell time was observed, with extended glaze leading to higher flexural strength and shorter crack lengths. Cracks of EG groups were observed to end in clusters of crystals. Color and translucency changed below perceptibility thresholds. All treatments led to a smoother surface and EG groups reached the lowest Rz values. An extra SiO2 peak was revealed in control and EG groups. No effect of cooling protocol was found. SIGNIFICANCE: Extended glaze firing was able to improve the resistance to crack initiation and propagation of porcelain-veneered zirconia without clinically perceptible changes in optical properties.

Does veneering technique affect the bond strength of bilayer Y-TZP? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reasons for failures of bilayer yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) restorations include the core-veneer interface bond strength. The influence of the veneering method on the bond strength of veneered Y-TZP is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of the veneering method on the bond strength of bilayer Y-TZP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science (Core Collection), and Scopus for in vitro studies evaluating the effect of the veneering technique on the bond strength of bilayer Y-TZP. Statistical analyses were performed with random-effect models (α=.05). RESULTS: From 619 identified studies, 140 were selected for full-text analysis and 16 were included. Manual searching yielded no additional articles. The meta-analyses comprised 15 studies, and 1 study was included only in the descriptive analysis. Meta-analyses compared the hand-layered method (control) with pressed, fused, and cemented veneering methods. The fused and cemented techniques were analyzed by using subgroups assessing the veneering ceramic type (predominantly glass-ceramics and particle-filled glass-ceramics). Similar bond strength results (P=.540) were found for pressed and hand-layered veneered Y-TZP specimens. Fused veneers achieved higher bond strength values (P<.001) than the hand-layered veneers on Y-TZP frameworks, irrespective of the veneering ceramic type (predominantly glass-ceramics: P=.002; particle-filled glass-ceramics: P<.001). Global and subgroup analyses indicated that lower core-veneer bond strength values (P<.001) were found for cemented in relation to hand-layered veneers. CONCLUSIONS: Core-veneer interfacial adhesion was equivalent for pressed and hand-layered veneering techniques. Improved bond strength, regardless of the veneer ceramic material type, was achieved by the fused veneering method, which seems to be a promising choice for the veneering of Y-TZP. In contrast, the cemented method may be unsuitable for veneering Y-TZP structures because of its lower bond strength than the hand-layered veneering technique.

Do thermal treatments affect the mechanical behavior of porcelain-veneered zirconia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: A systematic review of in vitro studies was conducted to assess the effect of thermal treatments on flexural strength or critical load to failure of porcelain-veneered zirconia (PVZ). SOURCES: Literature searches were performed up to June 2018 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases, with no publication year or language limits. DATA: From 393 relevant studies, 21 were selected for full-text analysis, from which 7 failed to meet the inclusion criteria. The 14 remaining papers were included in the systematic review: 8 for meta-analysis and 6 restricted to descriptive analyses. Hand searching of reference lists resulted in no additional papers. STUDY SELECTION: In vitro studies using PVZ specimens testing the influence of thermal treatments on the fracture resistance to monotonic or cyclic loading. Papers evaluating cooling rate were divided into those applying fast cooling from above the porcelain glass transition temperature (Tg), or from below it. Meta-analyses were performed separately for flexural strength and critical load to failure, using random effects at a 5% significance level. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying furnace opening at a temperature below the porcelain Tg is advised for PVZ restorations, in order to improve their fracture resistance. Additional information is required to confirm the apparent beneficial effect of self-glaze and repeated veneer firings on the mechanical properties of these restorations. Finally, in order to obtain conclusive and relevant evidence regarding thermal treatments and the fracture resistance of PVZs, future studies should concentrate on anatomically-correct crown specimens.

File-splitting multilayer vs monolithic Y-TZP: Fatigue flexural strength and loading stresses by finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare file-splitting multilayer (fused and cemented) with monolithic Y-TZP on the fatigue flexural strength and finite element analysis (FEA) stresses. Additionally, to verify the effect of the material under tension in multilayer Y-TZP. METHODS: Disc-shaped (diameter: 14.4mm; thickness: 1.4mm) monolithic Y-TZP (IPS e.max ZirCAD - Ivoclar Vivadent) and trilayer specimens with Y-TZP framework (IPS e.max ZirCAD), intermediate layer of fusion ceramic (IPS e.max CAD Crystall./Connect) or resin cement (Multilink Automix) and lithium disilicate veneer (IPS e.max CAD) were divided into five groups (n=20): monolithic Y-TZP (M), fused file-splitting with framework under tension (F-FT), cemented file-splitting with framework under tension (C-FT), fused file-splitting with veneer under tension (F-VT) and cemented file-splitting with veneer under tension (C-VT). Fatigue flexural strength was determined (piston-on-three ball) by the staircase approach (750,000 cycles; 20Hz). Mean and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. FEA was evaluated under the application of the experimental mean fatigue load. RESULTS: The fatigue strength was statistically different for all groups. Means and CI (MPa) were: M - 405.92 (CI 397.58-414.26), F-FT - 377.73 (CI 374.59-380.88), C-FT - 346.54 (CI 340.62-352.46), F-VT - 154.79 (CI 151.86-157.72) and C-VT - 100.34 (CI 97.42-103.26). FEA tensile stresses were similar to the mean experimental values (up to ≅10MPa of variation), with the most discrepant calculated stresses for C-FT (≅20MPa higher than experimental result). SIGNIFICANCE: Monolithic specimens showed the highest flexural fatigue strength and fused file-splitting resulted in higher fatigue strength than cemented file-splitting. Groups with the framework under tension exhibited higher flexural fatigue strength.

The effect of extended glaze firing on the flexural fatigue strength of hard-machined ceramics.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: It is unclear whether an extended glaze firing could improve the long-term mechanical performance of densely sintered CAD-CAM ceramics. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to analyze the effect of an extended glaze firing on the flexural fatigue strength (FFS) of densely sintered milled (hard-machined) leucite-based (LEU) and lithium disilicate-based (DIS) ceramics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Disks were machined from ceramic blocks and divided into 6 groups (n=20) according to the material, LEU or DIS, and to the applied glaze firing: manufacturer-recommended glaze (G group), extended glaze (EG group), and control/no firing (C group). The surface roughness of the disks was measured before and after firing by using a contact profilometer, and data were compared by paired sample tests. Specimens were submitted to fatigue by using the staircase test design in water (piston-on-3 balls; 500 000 cycles, 20 Hz, and sinusoidal loading). Mean (±SD) FFS values were then calculated and analyzed by using 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test (α=.05). RESULTS: Surface roughness did not change after the firing (P>.05). The highest FFS value in both ceramics was obtained after EG firing (LEU-EG=80.52 ±6.3 MPa; DIS-EG=147.25 ±10.5 MPa), which was statistically superior to G firing (LEU-G=73 ±6.8 MPa, P=.003; DIS-G=134.34 ±15.6 MPa; P=.023) and C group (LEU-C=61.94 ±6.3 MPa; P<.001; DIS-C=134.13 ±17.3 MPa; P=.023). CONCLUSIONS: EG firing optimized the biaxial flexural fatigue strength of hard-machined leucite and lithium disilicate ceramics compared with conventional glaze firing.

Does veneering technique affect the flexural strength or load-to-failure of bilayer Y-TZP? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Causes of failures of bilayer yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) restorations include the processing technique and the properties of the veneer ceramic. The effect of the veneering method on the mechanical behavior of veneered Y-TZP remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effect of the veneering method on the flexural strength and failure load of bilayer Y-TZP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were performed through August 2017 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science (Core Collection), Scopus, and Embase, with no year or language limit, targeting in vitro studies evaluating the effect of the veneering technique on the flexural strength and load-to-failure of bilayer Y-TZP immediately or after aging. Statistical analyses were conducted using an appropriate software. Comparisons were drawn with random effect models (α=.05). RESULTS: From 3242 identified studies, 241 were selected for full-text analysis; from these, 33 studies were included. Manual searching yielded no additional papers. The meta-analysis consisted of 32 studies. Meta-analysis was performed separately for flexural strength and failure load data to compare the hand-layered method (control) with pressed, fused, and cemented veneering techniques. The cemented and fused methods were analyzed using subgroups depending on the veneering material being examined (predominantly glass-ceramics and particle-filled glass-ceramics), and the results were compared with those of the hand-layered method. The pressed group presented flexural strength (7 studies) (P=.150) and failure load (19 studies) (P=.140) values that were similar to those of the hand-layered group. Subgroup analysis revealed that the fused group with particle-filled glass-ceramics (7 studies) produced higher load-to-failure (P=.006) values than the hand-layered group. Subgroup analyses showed a statistical difference that favored the hand-layered over the cemented method, with predominantly glass-ceramic materials (5 studies) (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: The fused technique with particle-filled glass-ceramics seems more appropriate for the veneering of Y-TZP, with improved failure load, than the hand-layered method with predominantly glass-ceramic materials. The use of predominantly glass-ceramics for the cemented method is not recommended as failure load was lower than for the hand-layered group. Pressed veneers showed failure load and flexural strength values similar to those of the the hand-layered technique.

In vitro methods to evaluate the mechanical behavior of teeth restored with post and core: a structured review

To critically assess in vitro methods used to evaluate the mechanical behavior of endodontically treated teeth restored with intra-radicular posts and cores. Literature review: a literature search of in vitro studies was conducted in PubMed database using the search terms: ("endodontic*" OR "intracanal post") AND ("fracture" OR "resistance" OR "load" OR "strength"). A filter for publication date was set to return studies from the last five years (from October 2010 to October 2015). The research strategy resulted in 1,556 studies. After the analysis of the eligibility criteria, 92 articles were included in a descriptive analysis. Human upper central incisors were used most frequently. The natural mobility of teeth was simulated using an artificial periodontal ligament in 66.7% of the studies. In 32.2% of the studies, the load to fracture was applied directly to the core. Thermocycling was performed in 27.2% of the studies. Cyclic loading was used in 38% of the studies. Final considerations: periodontal ligament simulation, thermocycling and cyclic loads are some methods that have been employed to approximate laboratory studies to the clinical conditions that teeth restored intra-radicular posts and cores are submitted. Novel test methodologies, such as step-test and staircase approach, have been used to evaluate the fatigue behavior of this systems. However, it is important do highlight that, considering the context in which most of the included studies were performed, the extrapolation of the results to the clinical practice should be made carefully