Degradation and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia 3-Unit Fixed Dental Prostheses Machined on a CAD/CAM System.

The manufacturing of ceramics fixed dental prostheses ( FDPs) is not the same as that of standardized samples and, therefore, the surface finishing are not necessarily the same in both cases. Standardized samples and FDPs were sintered, polished, hydrothermally aged in saliva, and submitted to mechanical tests. The results showed a difference in bending strength between machined (911.19 MPa) and polished FDPs (573.84 MPa). ANOVA statistical analysis did not show a difference in flexural strength between nondegraded (911.19 MPa) and degraded (871.94 MPa) FDPs. No differences were found in the bending strength and toughness of standardized samples and FDPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]