RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of ceramic plates cemented to dentin as a function of the resin cement film thickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ceramic plates (1 and 2 mm thicknesses) were cemented to bovine dentin using resin composite cement. The film thicknesses used were approximately 100, 200, and 300 microm. Noncemented ceramic plates were used as control. Fracture loads (N) were obtained by compressing a steel indenter in the center of the ceramic plates. ANOVA and Tukey tests (alpha= 0.05) were used for each ceramic thickness to compare fracture loads among resin cement films used. RESULTS: Mean fracture load (N) for 1-mm ceramic plates were: control-26 (7); 100 microm-743 (150); 200 microm-865 (105); 300 microm-982 (226). Test groups were significantly different from the control group; there was a statistical difference in fracture load between groups with 100 and 300 microm film thicknesses ( p < 0.01). Mean fracture load for 2-mm ceramic plates were: control-214 (111); 100 microm-1096 (341); 200 microm-1067 (226); 300 microm-1351 (269). Tested groups were also significantly different from the control group ( p < 0.01). No statistical difference was shown among different film thicknesses. CONCLUSIONS: Unluted specimens presented significantly lower fracture resistance than luted specimens. Higher cement film thickness resulted in increased fracture resistance for the 1-mm ceramic plates. Film thickness did not influence the fracture resistance of 2-mm porcelain plates.
