Fracture-resistant monolithic dental crowns

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Monolithic dental crowns are increasingly used for tooth restoration.
• Understanding the splitting resistance of different crown materials is crucial for clinical success.
• Previous research has not fully quantified the fracture behavior of various monolithic crown materials under realistic loading conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the splitting resistance of monolithic zirconia, lithium disilicate, and nanoparticle-composite dental crowns.
• To compare the fracture behavior of these materials using experimental testing and advanced computational modeling.

Main Methods:

• Anatomically correct monolithic crowns were cemented to composite dies.
• Axial loading experiments were performed using a hard sphere placed between cusps to measure critical splitting loads.
• Extended Finite Element Modeling (XFEM) was utilized to simulate crack propagation and failure evolution.

Main Results:

• Experimental data and XFEM predictions showed strong self-consistency.
• Zirconia crowns demonstrated the highest fracture loads, followed by lithium disilicate, and then dental nanocomposite.
• Dental nanocomposite crowns exhibited fracture resistance comparable to natural tooth enamel.

Conclusions:

• Monolithic dental crowns can withstand significant bite forces.
• The study identifies key material and geometrical factors influencing crown performance and longevity.
• Results provide valuable insights for optimizing dental crown design and material selection.