Statement of problem: Successful restoration of large molar defects is a serious clinical problem. Studies on the strength of teeth restored with ceramic restorations of various designs have provided conflicting results.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the shapes of large MOD ceramic restorations in molars most likely to prevent failure and to produce a favorable distribution of contact stresses between the cement and teeth during mastication.
Material and methods: The study was performed using a finite element analysis with contact elements. Eight 2-dimensional models of mandibular first molars with the following designs of MOD ceramic restorations were created: an inlay with a butt joint margin, an inlay with a beveled margin, an onlay with a butt joint margin, and an onlay with a rounded shoulder margin. The restorations had 3-mm or 5-mm isthmus widths. Models of opposing maxillary crowns were also developed. Computational simulation of mastication of boluses in the frontal plane was conducted, during which the stresses occurring in the ceramic restorations, cement, and tooth structure were calculated. The Tsai-Wu failure criterion was used to evaluate the strength of the materials. Contact stresses at the adhesive interface between the tooth structure and resin cement around these restorations were analyzed.
Results: According to the Tsai-Wu failure criterion, the margin of the beveled inlay and the surrounding tissue could be damaged during masticatory simulation. At the junction of the butt joint margin inlay and enamel, contact tensile stresses appeared. The lowest inverse of the Tsai-Wu strength ratio index appeared in the onlay with a rounded shoulder margin. At the adhesive interfaces around margins of large onlays, compressive contact stresses occurred.
Conclusions: For the large molar MOD ceramic restorations tested, the lowest values of the inverse of the Tsai-Wu strength ratio index and a favorable distribution of contact stresses between restoration and tissues appeared in the onlay with a rounded shoulder margin.