Objective: This in vitro study aims to evaluate load-to-failure of ceramic veneers with butt joint (BJ) and feathered edge (FE) incisal preparation designs, and to correlate these results to the failure mode of the restorations.
Materials and methods:One hundred and forty-eight typodont teeth (customized Nissin A25A-UL19B) were divided into two different preparation configurations BJ and FE and two different loading angulations, 0 and 20 . Lithium disilicate ceramic veneers (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent) were milled using computer-aided-designand-computer-aided-manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques. Veneers were bonded to typodont teeth with resin cement (IPS Variolink Esthetic, Ivoclar Vivadent). Each group was loaded at the incisal edge using an Instron Universal Testing Machine at a crosshead speed of 0.01 mm/s till failure.Results: Pairwise comparison showed veneers from the BJ groups had a significantly higher load-to-failure value compared to the FE groups. Veneers with a FE preparation design loaded at 20 angulation had the lowest load-to-failure value.Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, both incisal preparation designs and loading angulations have significant effects on the load-to-failure values of ceramic veneers. BJ group exhibits a significantly higher load-to-failure value compared to the FE group.Clinical significance: BJ incisal preparation is preferred over FE preparation design. K E Y W O R D S butt joint, feathered edge, load-to-failure, preparation design, veneer preparation 1 | INTRODUCTION Ceramic veneers have become a popular treatment modality due to their conservative and esthetic nature and clinical performance. 1-3Compared to resin composite veneers, ceramic veneers are stronger and more durable, as they are less susceptible to wear, marginal fracture, discoloration, staining, and plaque accumulation. 4-6 A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical outcome of ceramic veneers showed that both feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers have high survival rates. 7 Glass-ceramic laminate veneers show a slightly higher survival rate than feldspathic porcelain veneers, 94% vs 87%, respectively. The complications reported were fracture/chipping (4%), debonding (2%), severe marginal discoloration (2%), endodontic problems (2%), and secondary caries (1%). 7 A recent retrospective clinical study conducted in a university setting by two academic staff with a follow-up of 20 years indicated that ceramic fracture was the main reason for failure of ceramic veneers. 1 This finding is also supported by numerous earlier clinical studies. 3,8-16