Biomechanical Behavior Evaluation of Resin Cement with Different Elastic Modulus on Porcelain Laminate Veneer Restorations Using Micro-CT-Based Finite Element Analysis

The aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of the porcelain laminate veneer restorations (PLV) of the maxillary central incisor luted with two types of resin cements having different incisal preparations: butt joint and palatal chamfer. Biomechanical analyses were performed using the micro-CT-based finite element models, and von Mises stress and strain values of the PLV, resin cement, adhesive layer, and tooth structure were computed. The PLV with butt joint preparation showed larger stress values than those of restored with palatal chamfer preparation, regardless of the elasticity of the cement and loading conditions. An increase in the elasticity modulus of the resin cement induced slightly larger stresses on the adhesive layer, tooth tissues, and restorative materials. Overall, this study demonstrates the role of the preparation design and luting materials on the mechanical behavior of the PLV restorations and discusses the potential failure mechanisms of the PLV restorations under different loading mechanisms.