Fracture Localisation of Porcelain Veneers with Different Preparation Designs

Porcelain veneers are permanent restorations that combine good aesthetic with functionality by minimal destructive techniques.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the preparation designs on the fracture localisation.

Three preparation designs of porcelain veneers fabricated by a method of laying on a fireproof abutment on maxillary central incisor were examined in this in vitro study-feather preparation, bevel preparation and incisal overlap - palatal chamfer. The samples from all three groups were loaded into a universal test machine-TRITECH WF 10056 until damage occurred on the porcelain veneer. Fracture localisation was classified as an incisal, gingival or combination. Data were analysed with statistical programs: STATISTICA 7.1; SPSS 17.0.

In feather preparation, as a consequence of the mechanical force, the most common is the incisal localisation (66.7%), followed by the combined (33.3%), while the gingival fracture localisation is not registered. In bevel preparation, the most common fracture localisation is combined (53.6%), followed by incisal (35.7%) and subsequent gingival localisation (10.7%). In incisal overlap (palatal chamfer), combined and gingival localisation of the fracture is equally recorded in 14.3% of the samples, while the incisal is the most common localisation and is registered in 72.4%.

During the study, a statistically significant dependence was found between the localisation of the occurred changes (incisal, gingival and combination) and the three different types of preparation.