Metal ceramic

restoration
Writing
by
Dr. Osama Fawzy
Head department of Crowns & bridges
Deification:
it’s the metal coping crown
supporting the ceramic
veneer ,mechanically and chemically
bonded to each other
 Components of metal –ceramic
restoration

A- metal casting
B-porcelain veneer
 Metal-ceramic restorations

Minimum dimensions
for metal-ceramic
restorations

Layers of dental porcelain

 A- Metal alloy

Requirement of metal alloy used for M.C.R;

1- the coefficient of thermal expansion of

porcelain and metal should compatible (not
more than 1x10-6

2- Melting range of metal should be greater than

the firing temperature of the porcelain ( at least
170 – 270 C)

3- Metal should be rigid enough during the

mastication to support the porcelain
 B- porcelain

Basic requirements for porcelain

1- low fusing temperatures than the metal melting
point by 170 -280 C
2- should be high viscosity required high
resistance to flow
3- porcelain should resist devitification with many
time of firing ( color change to milk)
4- the coefficient of thermal expansion should
slightly lower than metal
5- should be chemical stable with multiple firing
Porcelain supply in different color
Manipulation ; water and powder mixing with binder------
gives past with workable mass easily
shaped ,contouring and building up the porcelain

Aims of porcelain condensation:

1- remove the excess water and decrease firing
shrinkage.

2- adapt the past in required form.

3-decrease porosity.
 Porcelain layers

1- opaque porcelain
2- dentin ( body)
3- Enamel ( incisal edge)
 Metal-Ceramic Restorations

Layers of Metal-ceramic restorations.

 1- opaque porcelain

It’s the 1st layer of porcelain applied on the metal

surface
- Titanium oxide, tin, zirconium are added to
porcelain
-main function or this layer metal masking.
Role of opaque:
1- mask the metal color with thickness 0.2mm
2- background for overlaying porcelain
3- main layer bonded with metal
 2- Dentin ( body)

1- 2nd layer overlay the porcelain

2- main bulk of porcelain body
Metal-ceramic restorations

Porcelain for metal veneering

III- Enamel (incisal) porcelain:

These are translucent porcelain 
(natural translucency to the final restoration).

The porcelain-metal bonding mechanisms:

Mechanical. Compressive. Chemical.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations

Porcelain for metal veneering

I- The Mechanical mechanism:

The micro-roughness (micro-abrasion) on the metal
surface, produced by finishing the metal surface with;
Non-contaminated stones or discs.
Air abrasion (sand blasting).
Creates some form of mechanical interlocking.

Advantages of air abrasion;

Enhances the wetability of the metal by porcelain.
Provide mechanical interlocking.
Increase surface area for chemical bonding.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations

Porcelain for metal veneering

I- The Mechanical mechanism:

Micro-roughness  excessively done  drawbacks in
the porcelain/ metal bond;
Stress concentration at the metal-ceramic interface.
Deep interface angles that may not allow the
complete wetting  resulting in air entrapment &
voids at metal-ceramic interface.

Deep interface angles result in entrapped air.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations

Porcelain for metal veneering

II- Compressive stresses:

Due to slightly smaller coefficient of thermal
expansion of porcelain than the metal  the porcelain
will be placed in a state of compression over the metal.

Tensile
stresses

Compressive
Porcelain Stresses.

Alloy

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Metal-ceramic restorations
Porcelain for metal veneering

III- Chemical bonding:

Plays the major role in metal-ceramic bonding
mechanisms, (formation of an oxide layer on the
metal surface).
So, oxide-forming trace elements as tin, indium,
gallium are added to gold alloys, these would
migrate to the interface where they oxidize & form
covalent bond (ionic) similar to oxides in the
opaque porcelain layer across the interface.
N.B.
in base metal alloys; nearly all metal elements in the
alloy systems are oxidizable, & a chromium oxide layer is
readily formed that bonds to porcelain.
In gold alloys & nickel-chromium base metal alloys; elements
are added to control oxide layer thickness  important in
preventing bond failure through the metal oxide.
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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
I- No sharp or acute angles:

Incorrect
A B

Correct

Sharp angels on the veneering surface

should be avoided, as it leads to initiation
of internal stress in the overlying porcelain.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
II- Adequate support to porcelain veneer:
Lack of metal support  porcelain fracture due to:
(a) Brittleness of porcelain.

(b) Thick porcelain sections are prone to fracture due to:

Presence of sub-surface porosity.

Layers away from the

metal are under
tension  easily
fractured.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
III- No occlusal contacts on porcelain/metal interface:

Contact at porcelain/metal
junction should be avoided
 porcelain fracture

The junction should be

placed away from all
centric occlusal contacts
(1-1.5 mm) to avoid metal
flow & subsequent
porcelain fracture.

It should be metal. 16
 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
IV- Facilitates the porcelain wrap-around effect:
The metal substructure should be designed to allow
porcelain to wrap-around the metal, this will result in;

Increasing porcelain
resistance against
splinting (fracture
under masticatory
force).

Better translucency
& esthetics.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
V- Compensate deficiencies in correct form of prepared teeth:
Deficiencies in the incisal edges or buccal or lingual
cusps should be compensated for with extra-metal
thickness & not in porcelain, (allow an even minimal
thickness of porcelain).
Relatively, thin porcelain (which does not impair
esthetics) of uniform thickness & support by rigid
metal is strongest.

Incorrect Correct
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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
VI- Metal thickness should provide adequate rigidity:
Flexing or bending of the metal during its seating on
the prepared tooth or under occlusal forces results
in porcelain fracture.

The minimal metal thickness should be for:

Noble metal alloys Base metal alloys
0.3-0.5mm 0.2-0.3mm

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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
VII- Occlusal & proximal contacts:
Occlusal contacts
They should be on metal whenever
possible because of;
Long-term biocompatibility
with natural teeth (less wear).
Could be more accurately
reproduced in wax pattern
construction rather than
porcelain build-up.

They should be away from porcelain-metal junction

(1.0-1.5 mm) to avoid porcelain fracture.

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 Metal-ceramic restorations
Principals of metal design
VII- Occlusal & proximal contacts:
Proximal contacts
For anteriors it should be on porcelain for better
esthetics & translucency.
Placing proximal contacts anteriorly in metal would
block light transmission resulting in poor esthetics.

No Light transmission in metal

Light transmission in porcelain

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Porcelain Porcelain Types of bond
failure in metal
Metal
Metal oxide
-ceramic materials.
Metal
1 2 1- Metal-porcelain.
2- Meta oxide-
Porcelain
Porcelain porcelain.
Metal oxide Metal oxide
Metal oxide
3- Metal-Metal oxide.
Metal Metal 4-Metal oxide-Metal
3 4 oxide.
5- Cohesive within
Porcelain Porcelain metal.
Metal oxide
Porcelain
Metal oxide
6- Cohesive within
Metal Metal porcelain.
5 6