Stresses within porcelain veneers and the composite lute using different preparation designs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate compressive and tensile stresses in porcelain and composite at the labial marginal region of porcelain veneer restorations using chamfer, shoulder, or knife-edge labial margin designs with labial window or incisal overlap incisal preparation designs. Porcelain veneer models were constructed and loaded with (1) a 200-N, 45 degrees palatal load to simulate functional loading, and (2) a horizontal labial loading of 200 N to mimic trauma. Maximum tensile and compressive stresses were recorded within the labial marginal region of both porcelain and composite lute. Under the 45 degrees palatal load, stresses within the palatal marginal porcelain were chiefly compressive, and stresses for the knife-edge designs as much as 42% less than for shoulder designs. Incisal overlap preparations were generally associated with less compressive stress within both porcelain and composite than the window preparation. When a labial load was applied, tensile stresses were as much as 25 times greater for the chamfer and shoulder designs compared with the knife-edge design. Labial loading also resulted in an increase in tensile stresses within the composite lute, and stresses were again lowest within the knife-edge margin design. Under the limitations of this study, using the incisal overlap preparation, porcelain veneers with knife-edge labial margins could better sustain occlusal loading without fracture. J Prosthodont 2001;10:16-21.