ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the mean marginal discrepancy of metal-ceramic crowns fabricated with gold cylinders and cemented on implant abutments. These discrepancies were then compared with those measured previously for implant-supported ceramic crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen Nobel BioCare CeraOne abutments were connected to implant fixtures embedded in acrylic resin blocks. Marginal discrepancies were determined for gold cylinders, gold cylinders plus ceramic alloy (metal frameworks), completed metal-ceramic crowns, and cemented metal-ceramic crowns using a stereomicroscope equipped with a video camera linked to a computer. A Hotelling's T2 test (p < or = .05) was used to evaluate potential differences in mean marginal discrepancies among groups. RESULTS: The mean marginal discrepancies were: 1) gold cylinders, 7.56 +/- 2.73 microns; 2) metal frameworks, 6.21 +/- 1.34 microns; 3) metal-ceramic crowns, 11.06 +/- 3.21 microns; and 4) zinc-phosphate cemented crowns, 31.47 +/- 6.65 microns. No significant difference between gold cylinders and metal frameworks was found. Mean marginal discrepancies for metal-ceramic crowns were significantly greater than discrepancies for cast gold cylinders. Cemented-crown mean marginal discrepancy was significantly greater than all other means. CONCLUSIONS: Cemented metal-ceramic crowns fabricated using proprietary gold cylinders exhibited well-fitting margins (31.47 microns).
