Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Worn Molars With Prosthetic Crowns and Onlays Made of Various Materials

Background/Purpose Restoration of worn teeth represents a challenge for practitioners in terms of preserving dental tissues, achieving restoration requirements, and choosing the most appropriate material. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of both preparation and restoration type on stress distribution in modeled first mandibular molars when functional and parafunctional occlusal forces were applied. Materials and methods The study sample consisted of 40 three-dimensional computer models of restored lower first molars with full crowns (gold, nickel-chrome, lithium disilicate, BruxZir® zirconia, and porcelain fused to metal) and onlays (gold, nickel, chrome, lithium disilicate, and direct and indirect composites). Forces of different intensities and directions were applied, and then finite element analysis was carried out based on the von Mises equivalent stress theory to predict the failure that could occur in the restoring materials and luting cement or bonding agent. Results In functional forces groups, zirconia crowns showed the lowest value of the failure risk, while the highest value was in veneering porcelain with values close to the rest of the models. For onlays, gold onlays represented the best stress distribution with the lowest value of the failure risk, in contrast to the composite onlays that had the highest failure risk. In parafunctional forces groups, the preference remained for zirconia and gold crowns, as well as for metal onlays, with greater differences in the values of the failure risk. Conclusion Gold alloy exhibited better behavior in the stress distribution. All restorations showed similar behavior when applying functional forces; however, when applying parafunctional forces, both gold and zirconia crowns have shown the best results.