Strain Behavior of Implant-Supported Full-Arch Fixed Dental Prostheses Supported by Four or Five Implants.

PURPOSE: Strains transferred to the supporting simulated bone structure by implant-supported full-arch fixed dental prostheses (FAFDPs) were analyzed by digital image correlation (DIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyurethane models were made using 3.75 × 11-mm implants and divided into the following groups with different implant numbers and design: EH5 (five implants/external hexagon), MT5 (five implants/internal taper), EH4 (four implants/external hexagon), and MT4 (four implants/internal taper). Both qualitative and quantitative (one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] statistical comparison) analyses were performed by the DIC method after the application of a 250-N load in the central fossa of the mandibular first molar. Different regions of interest were selected in the polyurethane model for comparison between groups. RESULTS: Compressive strains were found in the cervical region of the models, and tensile strains were found in the apical region of the models. Significant differences were found in the different analyzed regions of interest for the different number of supporting implants and implant designs (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Groups with five implants showed more regions with less strain concentration compared to groups with four implants, but strain distribution was similar between groups. The different tested implant designs showed similar strain concentration and distribution to the supporting structures.

Effects of surface treatments on mechanical behavior of sintered and pre-sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and reliability of crowns and abutments processed by CAD/CAM.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the micro shear bond strength of resin cement to an yttriastabilized zirconia ceramic and the survival probability of zirconia abutments and crowns after different surface treatments through a fatigue test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was divided into two parts. For part 1, 95 zirconia disks were divided into five groups (n = 19): control, untreated, airborne particle abrasion with Al2O3 particles before sintering, airborne particle abrasion with Al2O3 particles after sintering, silicatization before sintering, and silicatization after sintering. Three samples of each group were used for evaluation of surface roughness by confocal laser scanning microscopy and afterward were prepared for surface microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy. Ten samples of each group were subjected to micro shear bond strength testing, and the interfaces of the remaining six were examined by scanning electron microscopy. In part 2, 70 external hex zirconia abutments and copings were made by computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (n = 14). Marginal fit of abutment/coping was measured in a confocal laser scanning microscope. Afterward, a fatigue test was carried out with progressive load of 80 up to 320 N (40 N steps), 5 Hz frequency, and 20,000 cycles at each step. Thermal cycling was simultaneously performed (5°C to 55°C). RESULTS: The group treated after sintering with SiO achieved statistically higher micro shear bond strength (P < .01). Higher failure loads were associated with a combined failure. The surface changes in the group treated with SiO before sintering suggest silica deposition, and there was a lack of homogeneity, which was more evident on the surface of the groups treated before sintering. The marginal gap was higher for the group treated before sintering with SiO (P < .01), and the survival probability of the sets was similar for all tested groups (P = .57). CONCLUSION: The micro shear bond strength to zirconia was improved after silicatization after sintering, but the survival probability of crown/abutment/implant sets was not affected by different surface treatments.

Photoelastic comparison of as-cast and laser-welded implant frameworks.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A misfit between the implant and metal framework can produce biomechanical problems. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the vertical misfit, passivity, and biomechanical behavior of a prosthetic protocol-shaped I-beam framework, varying the number and inclination of implants before and after laser welding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two metal models with 4 or 5 implants were used. The I-beam framework for 4 or 5 implants was fabricated with cobalt-chromium alloy. The vertical misfit and passivity were evaluated with a stereomicroscope at ×80 magnification, with frameworks screwed into the respective model. The biomechanical behavior was analyzed with photoelastic studies. These analyses were performed before and after welding to observe the influence of the laser welding. RESULTS: The misfit was not significantly different among the groups studied; laser welding did not influence the vertical misfit. However, when the groups were compared for passivity, the 5 implants before welding group were statistically different (P=.025). CONCLUSIONS: Laser welding generated more passivity, less vertical misfit, and favorable stress distribution to the I-beam framework supported by 4 implants. To the I-beam framework supported by 5 implants laser welding did not influence the misfit or stress distribution, but there was an improvement in passivity.

Effect of cyclic loading on the vertical microgap of long-span zirconia frameworks supported by 4 or 6 implants.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Few studies have investigated the microgap of long-span complete-arch fixed dental prosthesis zirconia frameworks. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cyclic loading on the vertical microgap of maxillary 12-unit prostheses supported by 4 implants and on 14-unit prostheses supported by 6 implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One-piece zirconia frameworks were fabricated with a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technique and divided into 2 groups (n=5): a group of 12-unit prostheses and a group of 14-unit prostheses. The vertical microgap between the frameworks and prosthetic abutments was measured with an optical microscope (80×) under 2 reading conditions. Condition 1 (1-screw test): 1A, the screw on implant 1 was tightened and readings were made on all implants; 1B, the screw was changed to implant 4 (implant 6 for the 14-unit group) and readings were made on all implants. Condition 2: the microgap was measured with all screws tightened before cyclic loading (2A). Specimens were submitted to 200 N underwater (37°C) cyclic loading at a 2-Hz frequency for 1×10(6) cycles. Microgap reading condition 2 was repeated after cyclic loading (2B). The data were submitted to a linear mixed-effects model for statistical comparison (α=.05). RESULTS: A lower (P<.05) vertical microgap (µm) was found for the 12-unit group (reading conditions: 1A, 47.93; 1B, 43.83; 2A, 11.77; and 2B, 11.25) compared to the 14-unit group (1A, 94.87; 1B, 112.56; 2A, 21.28; and 2B, 16.90). No differences were found when each group was compared before and after cyclic loading (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: The vertical microgap was significantly reduced after tightening all the screws in the framework, possibly leading to a nonpassive situation. Longer-span frameworks showed an increased microgap. Cyclic loading had no influence on the vertical microgap within each group.

Wear resistance of a pressable low-fusing ceramic opposed by dental alloys.

Dental alloys have increasingly replaced by dental ceramics in dentistry because of aesthetics. As both dental alloys and ceramics can be present in the oral cavity, the evaluation of the wear resistance of ceramics opposed by dental alloys is important. The aim of the present study was to evaluate wear resistance of a pressable low-fusing ceramic opposed by dental alloys as well as the microhardness of the alloys and the possible correlation of wear and antagonist microhardness. Fifteen stylus tips samples of pressable low-fusing ceramic were obtained, polished and glazed. Samples were divided into three groups according to the disk of alloy/metal to be used as antagonist: Nickel-Chromium (Ni-Cr), Cobalt-Chromium (Co-Cr) and commercially pure titanium (cp Ti). Vickers microhardness of antagonist disks was evaluated before wear tests. Then, antagonist disks were sandblasted until surface roughness was adjusted to 0.75µm. Wear tests were performed at a speed of 60 cycles/min and distance of 10mm, in a total of 300,000 cycles. Before and after wear tests, samples were weighted and had their profile designed in an optical comparator to evaluate weight and height loss, respectively. Ni-Cr and cp Ti caused greater wear than Co-Cr, presenting greater weight (p=.009) and height (p=.002) loss. Cp Ti microhardness was lower than Ni-Cr and Co-Cr (p<.05). There is a positive correlation between weight and height loss (p<.05), but weight (p=.204) and height (p=.05) loss are not correlated to microhardness. The results suggest that pressable low-fusing ceramic presents different wear according to the dental alloy used as antagonist and the wear is not affected by antagonist microhardness.