Comparison of fracture strength after thermomechanical aging between provisional crowns made with CAD/CAM and conventional method

Abstract

PURPOSE. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the fracture strength and fracture patterns of provisional crowns fabricated from different materials and techniques after receiving stress from a simulated oral condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A monomethacrylate-based resin (Unifast Trad) and a bis-acryl-based (Protemp 4) resin were used to fabricate provisional crowns using conventional direct technique. A milled monomethacrylate resin (Brylic Solid) and a 3D-printed bis-acrylate resin (Freeprint Temp) were chosen to fabricate provisional crowns using the CAD/CAM process. All cemented provisional crowns (n=10/group) were subjected to thermal cycling (5,000 cycles at 5°-55°C) and cyclic occlusal load (100 N at 4 Hz for 100,000 cycles). Maximum force at fracture was tested using a universal testing machine. RESULTS. Maximum force at fracture (mean ± SD, N) of each group was 657.87 ± 82.84 for Unifast Trad, 1125.94 ± 168.07 for Protemp4, 953.60 ± 58.88 for Brylic Solid, and 1004.19 ± 122.18 for Freeprint Temp. One-way ANOVA with Tamhane post hoc test showed that the fracture strength of Unifast Trad was statistically significantly lower than others (P