Impact of air-abrasion on fracture load and failure type of veneered anterior Y-TZP crowns before and after chewing simulation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the fracture load and failure types of veneered zirconia crowns that were air-abraded on either the veneering or cementation surface. Fracture loads were determined before and after chewing simulation. Standardized Y-TZP frameworks (n = 360) for canines were fabricated and divided into one control group (n = 72) and 12 test groups (n = 24). The test groups were air-abraded using alumina powder (10 s, 2 bar, distance: 10 mm) with particle size of 50 μm resp. 110 μm and veneered with one of the veneering ceramics: Triceram, Zirox, or VITA VM9. The crowns were cemented on their corresponding CoCr abutment. The initial fracture load was measured in one half of each group (n = 12), and the other half (n = 12) was subjected to chewing cycling. The data were analyzed using three-way and one-way ANOVA, a post-hoc Scheffé test, two sample Student's t-test, and Weibull statistics (p < 0.05). Thus, nonaged, air-abraded groups of two veneering ceramics (Triceram, VITA VM9) showed higher mean fracture load compared to control groups. After chewing simulation, air-abraded groups showed lower mean fracture load compared to control groups. Aging decreased the Weibull modulus of all tested groups, and air-abraded groups showed lower Weibull moduli compared to control groups.