Load-bearing capacities of ultra-thin occlusal veneers bonded to dentin

OBJECTIVES To test whether the load-bearing capacity of occlusal veneers made of ceramic or hybrid materials bonded to dentin does differ from those of porcelain-fused-to metal or lithium disilicate glass ceramic crowns. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 80 human molars, occlusal tooth substance was removed so that the defects extended into dentin, simulating defects caused by attrition/erosion. Restorations at a standardized thickness of either 0.5 mm or 1.0 mm were digitally designed. For both thicknesses, 4 test groups (n = 10 per group) were defined, each including a different restorative material: "0.5-ZIR": 0.5 mm thick zirconia (Vita YZ HT); "1.0-ZIR": 1.0 mm thick zirconia (Vita YZ HT); "0.5-LDC": 0.5 mm thick lithium disilicate ceramic (IPS e.max Press); "1.0-LDC": 1.0 mm thick lithium disilicate ceramic (IPS e.max Press); "0.5-HYC": 0.5 mm thick PICN (Vita Enamic); "1.0-HYC": 1.0 mm thick PICN (Vita Enamic); "0.5-COC": 0.5 mm thick tooth shaded resin composite (Lava Ultimate) and "1.0-COC": 1.0 mm thick tooth shaded resin composite (Lava Ultimate). Consecutively, the specimens were thermo-mechanically aged and then loaded until fracture. The load-bearing capacities (F) between the groups were statistically compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test (p 0.05). The median F values of the 1.0 mm thick restorations were: 2'489 N in the group 1.0-ZIR, 1'864 N in the group 1.0-LDC, 2'485 N in the group 1.0-HYC and 2'479 N in the group 1.0-COC. With CLD as the control group, a significant difference between zirconia and lithium-disilicate was found for the 0.5 (p = 0.0017) and 1.0 mm (p = 0.0320) thick specimens. Comparing the 0.5 mm thick specimens with CLD as the control, a significant difference was found between 0.5-HYC and 0.5-LDC (p = 0.0017). With PFM as the control, the comparison of lithium disilicate and zirconia was statistically significant for both thicknesses (p = 0.0009 for the 0.5 mm thick specimens; p = 0.0074 for the 1.0 mm thick specimens). In addition, with PFM as control group, significant differences were seen between 0.5-LDC and all other groups with restorations in 0.5 mm thickness (p = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS Regarding their maximum load-bearing capacity, minimally invasive occlusal veneers made of ceramic, hybrid materials or polymeric materials can be applied to correct occlusal tooth wear with exposed dentin and thus replace conventional crown restorations in cases of normally expected intraoral bite forces.