Marginal and internal fit of three-unit zirconia fixed dental prostheses: Effects of prosthesis design, cement space, and zirconia type

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal fit of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated using CAD/CAM with two designs, two cement space (CS), and two zirconia types.

Methods: A master model with two zirconia abutments and a missing tooth was scanned with an intraoral scanner. FDPs were fabricated with two designs (Full contour: FC, Framework: FW), two zirconia types (multi-layer: L, single-layer: W), and two CS values (30 and 45 μm for L and 30 μm for W). There were six experimental groups. The fit of the FDPs was evaluated using the replica method. The space between an abutment and the FDPs in the marginal (MO), chamfer (CH), axial (AX), and occlusal (OC) areas was measured under an optical microscope and the data was statistically analyzed using three-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test (p < 0.05).

Results: FW-l-45 μm showed a significantly smaller space than those for the FC in MO (p = 0.011), CH (p = 0.001) and AXE (p = 0.003). FW-l-30 μm showed a significantly smaller space than that for the 45 µm in AXE (p = 0.000) and OC (p = 0.016). FW-W-30 µm showed a significantly smaller space than that for the L in MO (p = 0.000), CH (p = 0.000), AXE (p = 0.000), and OC (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: The design and CS of the FDPs affected the fit. FDPs with single-layer zirconia showed better fit than that obtained with multi-layer zirconia.