Surface Roughness and Wear Behavior of CAD/CAM Ceramics Against Vita Mark II

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the surface roughness (SR) and wear behavior of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramics when compared to a feldspathic ceramic. Material and Methods: This in vitro study was conducted on three groups of CAD/CAM ceramic blocks (n = 10 each): a zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate ceramic, a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network, and a resin nanoceramic. Additionally, 40 feldspathic ceramic blocks and 10 bovine incisors were used as antagonist materials. Surface roughness was measured by profilometry before and after wear testing (49 N, 120,000 cycles, 30 cycles/min). Wear depth was quantified using 3D scanning and image analysis software. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and paired t-tests (α = 0.05). Results: Before wear testing, the zirconia-reinforced ceramic showed significantly higher SR than the other groups (p = 0.00). All groups exhibited a significant reduction in SR after testing (p = 0.00). Posttest SR varied significantly between most groups (p < 0.05), except between natural enamel and the resin nanoceramic (p = 0.986). Wear depth differed significantly among the materials (p < 0.001), with natural enamel showing the lowest wear, comparable only to the resin nanoceramic (p > 0.05). Conclusions: All tested CAD/CAM ceramics underwent substantial wear and SR reduction when opposed by feldspathic ceramic. The resin nanoceramic demonstrated the closest wear behavior to natural enamel and may be the most suitable restorative material for contact with feldspathic ceramics.