Influence of arch curvature and all-ceramic materials on fatigue life of fixed bridges: a finite element analysis / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The cyclic fatigue finite element method is more useful to study the fatigue life of the prosthesis in accordance with the actual situation of the oral cavity. OBJECTIVE:To study the all-ceramic fixed bridge fatigue life with different arch curvatures and materials. METHODS:According to the arch curvature, four sets of models (group Ⅰ, 0°; group Ⅱ, 30°; group Ⅲ, 60°; group Ⅳ, 90°) were set up on the basis of a digital model of all-ceramic fixed bridge. Fatigue life of each model was analyzed with different materials (In-Ceram Zirconia, Zenotec, LAVA). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The stress was mostly concentrated at the join of the all-ceramic fixed bridge. It was also the most part of the stress extremum, the shortest part of fatigue life and the most easily damaged part of the material. With the increase of arch curvature, the fatigue life of Group In-Ceram Zirconia dropped from 4.6 to 1.7 years, while both Group Zenotec and Group LAVA had the fatigue life of 19.6 years. The part of minimum life was the join of the fixed bridge. These findings indicate that the expected fatigue life of In-Ceram Zirconia all-ceramic fixed bridge restoration is relatively short, which may be an inappropriate repair material in anterior and posterior positions of canine teeth. All-ceramic materials, Zenotec and Lava, can meet the clinical life expectancy under different curvatures.