Effect of mouth-motion fatigue and thermal cycling on the marginal accuracy of partial coverage restorations made of various dental materials

ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of mouth-motion fatigue on marginal-accuracy of partial-coverage-restorations-(PCRs) of various dental materials.MethodsEighty molars were prepared equally and divided into five groups (n = 16). PCRs were fabricated of following dental materials: Group-GO = Gold-Pontor-MPF‡, Group-TA = Targis*, Group-EX = IPS-e.max-Press*, Group-EM = IPS-Empress*, Group-PC = ProCAD*/Cerec 3† (‡Metalor/*Ivoclar-Vivadent/†Sirona-Dental-System). Gold-PCRs were cemented conventionally. Residual 64 PCRs were adhesively luted and subjected to masticatory loading (1.2 million-cycles, 1.6 Hz, 49 N) and thermal cycling (5 °C/55 °C, 60 s, dwell-time, 5500cycles). Discrepancies in marginal-accuracy were examined on epoxy replicas (200× magnification). Statistical analysis was performed by unpaired and paired t-tests (α = 0.05).ResultsAfter cementing, marginal-accuracy (geometrical mean)[95% confidence limits] was recorded: GO-47[43–51]μm, TA-42[38–45]μm, EX-60[52–67]μm, EM-52[45–60]μm and PC-75[59–94]μm. No significant differences were found between groups GO, TA and EM. Values of Group-EX were significantly higher compared to Group-TA (p = 0.04). Group-PC demonstrated significantly decreased marginal-accuracy towards groups GO (p = 0.03) and TA (p = 0.02). Except for Group-GO (p = 0.01), no significant changes in marginal-accuracy were observed after mouth-motion fatigue and thermal cycling (GO-42[38–45]μm, TA-42[38–47]μm, EX-56[49–65]μm, EM-54[46–64]μm and PC-71[59–84]μm). However, Group-GO and Group-EM showed significant deviations in marginal-accuracy after aging (p = 0.04). Marginal discrepancies of groups EX and EM were similar (p = 1.0). Values of Group-PC were significantly higher when compared to groups GO (p = 0.01) and TA (p = 0.02). Buccal–lingual marginal discrepancies were significantly higher than mesial–distal in all groups and stages.SignificanceCast-gold-PCRs demonstrated superior marginal-accuracy, followed by indirect ceromer PCRs. All-ceramic PCRs showed in vitro clinical acceptable marginal widths, even though CAD/CAM fabrication slightly compromised marginal-accuracy. Since preparation margins were not exposed to occlusal loading directly, increased marginal discrepancies due to marginal chipping during mouth-motion fatigue were not experienced.