Tooth substance removal for ceramic single crown materials-an in vitro comparison
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Additive Manufacturing of Functionally Graded Ceramic Materials by Stereolithography
Published on: January 25, 2019
Franz Sebastian Schwindling1, Moritz Waldecker2, Peter Rammelsberg2
1Department of Prosthodontics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. Sebastian.Schwindling@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Objectives:
The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the tooth structure removal required for currently available ceramic crown materials.
Material And Methods:
Ninety typodont teeth (60 incisors, 30 molars) were assigned to nine study groups. The teeth were digitized, weighed with a high-precision balance, and fixed in carriers in identical alignment. Full-crown restorations were prepared according to material-specific guidelines for monolithic zirconia (MZ), polymer-infiltrated ceramics (PIC), buccally veneered zirconia (BVZ), feldspathic ceramics (FC), fully veneered zirconia (FVZ), and lithium disilicate (LD). Tooth structure removal was assessed by weighing the teeth before and after preparation. Coronal volume loss was analyzed statistically by use of one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey HSD tests with α = 0.05.
Results:
Mean tooth structure removal for incisors was 42% (SD 2%) for MZ, 46% (SD 1%) for PIC, 50% (SD 2%) for BVZ, 57% (SD 1%) for FC, 57% (SD 2%) for FVZ, and 59% (SD 2%) for LD. Mean tooth structure removal for molars was 21% (SD 2%) for MZ, 31% (SD 1%) for PIC, and 35% (SD 1%) for LD. Inter-group differences were statistically significant, except for between FC and FVZ.
Conclusions:
Preparation of full ceramic crowns for restoration-free teeth is an invasive procedure. Selecting the ceramic material can, however, reduce loss of tooth structure substantially.
Clinical Relevance:
Monolithic zirconia is the least invasive material for the preparation of incisor and molar ceramic single crowns. Prescribing buccally veneered instead of fully veneered zirconia reduces preparation invasiveness significantly.
More Related Videos
08:29Multi-material Ceramic-Based Components – Additive Manufacturing of Black-and-white Zirconia Components by Thermoplastic 3D-Printing (CerAM - T3DP)
Published on: January 7, 2019
05:42Detection and Removal of Tooth-Colored Composite Resin Using the Fluorescence-Aided Identification Technique
Published on: July 27, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Crown Ethers
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
Deleterious Substances in Aggregate
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Connective Tissue Fibers and Ground Substance