ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose was to compare the marginal fidelity and the fracture resistance of the zirconia crowns according to the various coping designs with different thicknesses and cement types. Material and METHODS: Zirconia copings were designed and fabricated with various thicknesses using the CAD/CAM system (Everest, KaVo Dental GmbH, Biberach., Germany). Eighty zirconia copings were divided into 4 groups (Group I: even 0.3 mm thickness, Group II: 0.3 mm thickness on the buccal surface and the buccal half of occlusal surface and the 0.6 mm thickness on the lingual surface and the lingual half of occlusal surface, Group III: even 0.6 mm thickness, Group IV: 0.6 mm thickness on the buccal surface and the buccal half of occlusal surface and the 1.0 mm thickness on the lingual surface and the lingual half of occlusal surface) of 20. By using a putty index, zirconia crowns with the same size and contour were fabricated. Each group was divided into two subgroups by type of cement: Cavitec(R) (Kerr Co, USA) and Panavia-F(R) (Kuraray Medical Inc, Japan). After the cementation of the crowns with a static load compressor, the marginal fidelity of the zirconia crowns were measured at margins on the buccal, lingual, mesial and distal surfaces, using a microscope of microhardness tester (Matsuzawa, MXT-70, Japan, x100). The fracture resistance of each crown was measured using a universal testing machine (Z020, Zwick, Germany) at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The results were analyzed statistically by the two-way ANOVA and oneway ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test at alpha= .05. RESULTS: Group I and III showed the smallest marginal fidelity, while group II demonstrated the largest value in Cavitec(R) subgroup (P .05). Panavia-F(R) subgroup showed significantly higher fracture resistance than Cavitec(R) subgroup in group I and II (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, considering fracture resistance or marginal fidelity and esthetics, a functional ceramic substructure design of the coping with slim visible surface can be used for esthetic purposes, or a thick invisible surface to support the veneering ceramic can be used depending on the priority.