Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thermocycling and load-cycling on fatigue resistance of monolithic molar crowns fabricated using CEREC 3D with two restorative materials when a self-adhesive resin cement is used. 32 extracted molars were prepared to receive CEREC crowns according to manufacturer's guidelines using special paralleling device (Parallel-A-Prep, Dentatus). Sixteen feldspathic ceramic crowns (Vita Mark-II, VITA Zahnfabrik) and sixteen resin-composite crowns (Paradigm-MZ100 blocks, 3M/ESPE) were milled using CEREC-3D machine (Sirona Dental Systems). Eight crowns of each group were cemented to their respective teeth using selfetching resin cement (Panavia F-2.0, Kuraray) and eight were cemented using self-adhesive resin cement (Rely-X Unicem Clicker, 3M/ESPE). Following storage for 1 week in water crowns were subjected to uniaxial compressive cyclic-loading in Instron at 12Hz for 1,000,000 cycles. Load was applied at central fossa and cycle range was 60-600N. Specimens were then subjected to microleakage testing. Data were statistically-analyzed using factorial ANOVA and Post Hoc (Tukey HSD) tests. All composite crowns survived compressive cyclic-loading without fracture; while three ceramic crowns (37.5%) from subgroup cemented with Rely-X Unicem-Clicker developed surface cracks at center of occlusal surfaces that extended laterally. Microleakage scores of ceramic crowns cemented with Panavia F-2.0 were significantly lower than those of the other three subgroups (p<.05). After 1 million cycles of compressive cyclic-loading Paradigm MZ100 composite molar crowns were more fatigue-resistant than Vita Mark-II ceramic ones with none of 16 crowns undergoing any signs of breakdown. Cement type had a significant effect on fatigue resistance of the ceramic crowns but not the composite crowns. Microleakage scores of ceramic crowns cemented with Panavia F-2.0 were significantly lower than those of the other subgroups (p<.05).