Effect of test method on flexural strength of recent dental ceramics.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationships among three flexural strengths of recent dental ceramics using 3-point and 4-point bending tests and biaxial flexural test. Three brands of porcelain for veneering (d.SIGN, Supper porcelain AAA, Vintage Hallo), two injectable ceramics (Empress 2, OPC 3G), and one castable ceramic (Crys-Cera) were used. Twenty bar-shaped and 10 disc-shaped specimens of each ceramic type were prepared according to manufacturers' instructions, polished, and subjected to 3-point and 4-point bending tests and biaxial flexural test, respectively. Three flexural strengths for each ceramics were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey comparison, and also investigated by Weibull analysis. The biaxial flexural strength and 3-point bending strength of all ceramics, except OPC 3G and Crys-Cera, were significantly greater than the corresponding 4-point bending strength. As for OPC 3G and Crys-Cera, their biaxial flexural strengths were significantly greater than their 3-point bending strengths, which is contrary to the other ceramics. The Weibull moduli ranged from 6.6 to 20.8. The Weibull moduli of examined ceramics, except Crys-cera, were statistically insignificant regardless of test methods.