DENTAL CERAMICS

• Dental ceramics are attractive because of their
bio compatibility, long-term color stability, chemical
durability, wear resistance, and ability to be formed
into precise shapes,
• Nonmetallic, inorganic structures
• Contain compounds of oxygen with metallic or semi-
metallic elements
• Crystal phase and silicate glass matrix phase D.
Structure characterized by chains of (SiO4)4-
tetrahedra
Structure of Dental Ceramics
• SiO4 tetrahedra linked by sharing corners
• Arranged as linked chains of tetrahedra
• Primary structural unit is the negatively charged
silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (SiO4)4-
• Covalent and ionic bonds in the structure
Feldspathic Veneering Porcelains
• Alkali ions (sodium or potassium) bond to
unbalanced oxygen ions
• Alkali cations disrupt silicate chains and increase
thermal expansion
• Crystalline particles (e.g., tetragonal leucite) increase
expansion coefficient
• Potash feldspar and leucite are primary phase fields
in feldspathic veneering ceramics
CLASSIFICATION OF DENTAL CERAMICS
III. Types of Veneering Ceramics
A. Feldspathic porcelains
1. Ultralow- and low-fusing ceramics
2. Low-fusing specialty ceramics
3. Ceramic stains
4. Ceramic glazes
I. Silicate Glass in Feldspathic Porcelains
A. Silica (SiO2) can exist in crystalline and noncrystalline
forms
B. Fused silica has a high-melting temperature due to the
covalent bonds between silica tetrahedra
C. Fluxes are added to reduce sintering temperature and
prevent alloy melting or deformation
II. Potassium and Sodium Feldspars
A. Naturally occurring minerals used in dental porcelains
B. Potassium feldspar forms leucite and a glass phase during
firing, allowing porcelain particles to coalesce
C. Feldspar tendency to form leucite controls thermal
expansion
III. Compositions of Veneering Ceramics
A. Similar to veneering aluminous porcelain core ceramics
with increased K2O and Na2O concentrations
B. Specific concentrations of soda, potash, and leucite
required for compatibility with metal coping
C. Opaque porcelains contain metallic oxide opacifiers to
conceal metal
IV. Thermal Properties and Considerations
A. Veneering ceramics for metals have higher expansion
and contraction coefficients than ceramics for alumina or
zirconia
B. Nonessential repeated firings can lead to devitrification
and changes in thermal properties
C. Matching thermal properties of alloy and porcelain is
crucial to prevent chipping or cracking in clinical service

METAL-CERAMIC SYSTEMS: COMPOSITION AND

PROPERTIES

CERAMIC COMPOSITION

I. Composition of Conventional Dental Porcelain

A. Silica (SiO2) network
B. Potash feldspar (K2O•Al2O3•6SiO2) or soda feldspar
(Na2O•Al2O3•6SiO2)
C. Addition of pigments, opacifiers, and glasses for
temperature control and color
D. Relatively pure and colorless feldspars used, requiring
addition of pigments

II. Composition of Feldspathic Porcelains

A. SiO2 matrix (52% to 65%)
B. Al2O3 (11% to 20%)
C. K2O (10% to 15%), Na2O (4% to 15%), and other additives
(B2O3, CeO2, Li2O, TiO2, Y2O3)
D. Contain glass matrix and one or more crystal phases
 CHAPTER 24: METAL-CERAMIC RESTORATIONS Chemical Bonding
• Metal-ceramic restorations combine the strength of • indicated by the formation of an oxide layer on the
cast metal with the esthetics of porcelain. metal and by bond strength that is increased by firing
• Restraint should be exercised in selecting metal- in an oxidizing atmosphere
ceramic restorations, especially for molars.
• Dentists often prefer cast gold and amalgam
restorations for molars due to their predictability.
• Metal-ceramic restorations have been known by
various names, including Ceramco crown, porcelain
veneer crown, porcelain-fused-to-gold crown, and
porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.
• Metal-ceramic restorations consist of a metal coping
and layers of porcelain.
• The metal coping is covered with opaque porcelain,
dentin porcelain, and enamel porcelain.
• Opaque porcelain conceals the metal, develops the
shade, and helps bond the ceramic to the metal.
• Dentin porcelain provides the bulk and color of the
restoration.
• Enamel porcelain adds translucency to the
restoration.

BONDING MECHANISMS
• Four mechanisms have been described to explain the
bond between the ceramic veneer and the metal
substructure:
1. Mechanical entrapment
2. Compressive forces
3. Van der Waals forces
4. Chemical bonding
Mechanical entrapment
• creates attachment by interlocking the ceramic with
microabrasions in the surface of the metal coping,
which are produced by finishing the metal with
noncontaminating stones or disks and air abrasion
Compresive forces
• When the coefficient of thermal expansion of a
properly designed metal coping is slightly higher than
that of the porcelain veneered over it, compressive
forces develop. The slight difference in coefficients of
thermal expansion, or thermal contraction as is the
case during cooling, will cause the porcelain to draw
toward the metal coping when the restoration cools
after firing
Van der Waals forces
• comprise an affinity based on a mutual attraction of
charged molecules. They contribute to bonding, but
they are a minor force that is not as significant as was
once though
COPING DESIGN
• There are six features of importance to be considered
when designing the metal coping for an MCR:
1. Thickness of the porcelain veneer
2. Support of the porcelain veneer
3. Thickness of metal underlying and
adjoining the porcelain
4. Placement of occlusal and proximal
contacts
5. Extent of the area to be veneered for
porcelain
6. Design of the facial margin
1. Thickness of the porcelain veneer
• The absolute minimum thickness of porcelain is 0.7
mm, and the desirable thickness is 1.0 to 1.5 mm.
Extensions of porcelain beyond 2.0 mm are prone to
fracture even if these thick areas of porcelain are not
in areas of force concentration
2. Support of the porcelain veneer
• An evenly flowing convex contour of the veneering
area distributes stress best. Sharp angles and
undercuts should be avoided.
• An acute angle of metal at the metal porcelain
interface is more likely to produce porcelain crazing
than an angle of 90 or 135 degrees
3. Thickness of metal underlying and adjoining the porcelain
• For adequate strength and rigidity, a noble metal
coping should be at least 0.3 to 0.5 mm thick. 27 A
base metal alloy with a higher yield strength and
elevated melting temperature may be as thin as 0.2
mm. 28 The thickness of the coping may vary,
depending on the configuration of the preparation.
These values are only minimum thicknesses for
different alloy systems. The ultimate goal of achieving
 a uniform thickness of approximately 1.0 mm of
porcelain will dictate the thickness of the metal
coping.

4. Placement of occlusal and proximal contacts

• the collar of exposed metal on the lingual should be
at least 3.0 mm wide incisogingivall
• the lingual reduction necessary is 1.3 to 1.5 mm with
a beveled shoulder finish line.

5. Extent of the area to be veneered for porcelain

• Extension over cusp tip and halfway down palatal
incline (approximately)
• Rounded ledge of metal to support porcelain
(approximately)
• Avoiding porcelain extension to central groove or
entire occlusal surface
• Porcelain coverage of mesial marginal ridge up to
triangular ridge (approximately)
• Complete porcelain coverage of premolars and
molars for absolute esthetics
• Metal collar on facial surface (1.0-2.0 mm wide)
• Lingual metal collar (3.0 mm wide) and support under
marginal ridges for posterior crowns with porcelain
occlusal coverage
6. Design of the facial margin
• Subgingival placement contributing to periodontal
problems
• Heavy chamfer or angled shoulder (bevel) finish line
with metal coping extending to the cavosurface
margin
• Low-fusing porcelains and opaque-dentin porcelain
combinations for acceptable results
• Contraindications for all-porcelain facial margins if a
talented ceramist is not available.
CAD/CAM pattern fabrication
• computer-aided design/computerassisted
manufacture (CAD/CAM) technologies have allowed
for the fabrication of milled patterns for MCR
frameworks. These patterns are sprued, invested, and
cast using conventional methods. A significant
advantage with these technologies is that they are
very efficient, they use materials more rigid than wax,
and they involve a full-contour digital wax-up prior to
the digital cutback.

SINGLE COPING WAX PATTERN Alloy surface treatment

All-wax technique Oxidation

PORCELAIN ADDITION

Opaque porcelain application

All-porcelain margin fabrication
Dentin and enamel porcelain application
Porcelain surface treatment
• . Three commonly used treatments include: (1)
natural or autoglaze, (2) applied overglaze, and (3)
polishing
• Porcelain has the ability to glaze itself when held at its
fusing temperature under air for 1 to 4 minutes

FINISHING AND CEMENTATION

Shade modification
• If the shade of a metal-ceramic crown is too dark (its
value too low or chroma too high), it is almost
impossible to lighten it by custom staining without
making the tooth appear too opaque. However, if it is
too light (its value too high or chroma too low), it can
be modified.

Chairside correction
• The simplest procedure is recontouring and
subsequently polishing modified areas.
• Excessive heat and vibration can initiate
microfractures that may lead to premature failure of
the porcelain
• fire small increments of porcelain such as for
perfecting proximal contacts, occlusal contacts,
pontic tissue contact areas, or other minor contour
additions