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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Quasistatic Mechanical Testing for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Occlusal Veneers Cemented to Milled Dentin Analog Material
Published on: December 20, 2024
Microtensile bond strength of lithium disilicate to zirconia with the CAD-on technique
James J Renda1, Aaron B Harding, Clifton W Bailey
110th Dental Squadron, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
Purpose:
Recently, a novel technique was introduced to combine lithium disilicate and zirconia into one restoration. The purpose of this study was to compare the microtensile bond strength of veneering ceramic to a zirconia core in two techniques: the e.max® CAD-on technique and the Press-on technique.
Materials And Methods:
Group A was prepared by veneering sintered zirconia blocks (e.max® ZirCAD) with lithium disilicate blocks (e.max® CAD) using the CAD-on technique according to manufacturer's instructions. Group B was prepared by taking sintered e.max® ZirCAD blocks and veneering them with fluorapatite glass-ceramic (e.max® ZirPress) using the Press-on technique according to manufacturer's instructions. Each block was loaded in a dynamic cyclic loading machine. The blocks were then sectioned into 1 × 1 mm(2) beams (n = 43) using a precision saw, thermocycled, and loaded in tension until failure on a universal testing machine. A mean and standard deviation were determined per group. Data were analyzed using an unpaired t-test (α = 0.05).
Results:
The mean microtensile bond strengths were 44.0 ± 13.8 MPa for the CAD-on technique and 14.9 ± 8.8 MPa for the Press-on technique. Significant differences were found between the two groups (p = 2.7E-19).
Conclusions:
The CAD-on technique (lithium disilicate/zirconia) resulted in greater microtensile bond strength than the Press-on technique (fluorapatite glass-ceramic/zirconia).

