In vitro analysis of the fracture resistance of CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia molar crowns with different occlusal thickness

Objectives: To compare the fracture resistance and mode of failure of CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crowns with different occlusal thickness. Material and methods: Forty CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crowns with different occlusal thickness were randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups: 2.0mm (group 1), 1.5mm (group 2), 1.0mm (group 3) and 0.5mm (group 4). The restorations were cemented onto human molars with a self-adhesive resin cement. The specimens were loaded until fracture; the fracture resistance and mode of failure were recorded. The data were statistically analyzed with the one-way ANOVA followed by the Fisher׳s Exact test with Bonferroni׳s correction (p=0.05). Results: The fracture resistance values of all the specimens exceeded the maximum physiological occlusal loads in molar regions. All the crowns showed cohesive microcracks of the zirconia core; only 1 crown with a thickness of 0.5mm was interested by a complete fracture. Conclusions: The occlusal thickness of CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crowns did not influence either the fracture resistance and the mode of failure of the restorations; the occlusal thickness of CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crowns can be reduced up to a lower bound of 0.5mm keeping a sufficient strength to withstand occlusal loads; CAD-CAM monolithic zirconia crowns showed sufficient fracture resistance to be used in molar regions, even in a thin configuration (0.5mm).