Post-fatigue fracture load, stress concentration and mechanical properties of feldspathic, leucite- and lithium disilicate-reinforced glass ceramics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical properties of different CAD/CAM ceramic systems and the post-fatigue fracture and stress distribution when used as cemented crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty (60) CAD/CAM monolithic crowns were milled using three different ceramic materials (FD – Feldspathic [Vita Mark II]), LE - Leucite-based ceramic [IPS Empress CAD] and LD - Lithium Disilicate [IPS e.max CAD]) and adhesively cemented on resin composite dyes. Specimens were stored in distillated water (37 °C) for 7 days. After, half of the crowns were submitted to immediate fracture load test while the other half was submitted to fatigue cycling. The average cement layer of approximately 80 μm was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average thickness was used in the three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element Analysis (FEA). For each ceramic material, the density, Poisson ratio, shear modulus, Young modulus, fracture toughness, and true hardness were assessed (n = 3). The data was used to assess the Maximum Principal Stress throughout 3D-FEA according to each material during load to fail and post-fatigue. Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: LD showed the highest compression load, density, shear modulus, Young modulus, fracture toughness and true hardness values. While LE presented the lowest mechanical properties values. There is no difference in the Poisson ratio between the evaluated ceramics. CONCLUSION: LD was susceptible to aging process but presented stronger physicomechanical properties, showing the highest post-fatigue fracture load and highest stress magnitude.