Fracture Strength After Fatigue Loading of Lithium Disilicate Pressed Zirconia Crowns

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of fatigued lithium disilicate pressed zirconia crowns versus other ceramic crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lithium disilicate pressed zirconia, fluorapatite pressed zirconia, monolithic lithium disilicate, and monolithic zirconia crowns were fabricated. Cyclic and static loadings were applied to the mesiobuccal cusp tip after thermocycling and fracture strengths were recorded. RESULTS: Fatigued lithium disilicate pressed zirconia crowns were found to have a fracture resistance of 9,117.81 ± 727.04 N, compared with 9,240.61 ± 887.21 N for monolithic zirconia crowns, 3,030.18 ± 1,505.83 N for fluorapatite pressed zirconia crowns, and 4,173.94 ± 877.46 N for monolithic lithium disilicate crowns (P = .001). CONCLUSION: This in vitro study shows that fatigued lithium disilicate pressed zirconia and monolithic zirconia crowns have better fracture resistance than fluorapatite pressed zirconia and monolithic lithium disilicate crowns.