Optical Stereomicroscope Research Articles

Fracture resistance and mode of failure of various types of root filled teeth

To investigate ex vivo the influence of the post system on fracture resistance and failure mode of root filled incisor, canine, premolar and molar teeth. Eighty human teeth were divided into eight groups (n = 10) resulting from the interaction between the two study factors: post system (glass fibre post; cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core) and type of tooth (maxillary incisors, maxillary canines, maxillary premolars and mandibular molars). All roots were prepared with a 2-mm ferrule and restored with metal crown. Fracture resistance (N) was assessed in a mechanical testing device, and the data were analysed by two-way anova (4 × 2) followed by Tukey's test (α = 0.05). The failure mode was evaluated using an optical stereomicroscope and classified according to the location of the failure. Failure mode data were analysed by two-factor anova and Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) tests (α = 0.05). Correlation between fracture resistance and failure mode was analysed by linear regression. Glass fibre and cast posts and cores had similar fracture resistance, regardless of the type of tooth. Canines and molars had significantly higher fracture resistance (P < 0.001) than premolars. Incisors teeth had significantly lower fracture resistance (P < 0.001) than premolars. The fracture mode for incisors, premolars and molars was more amenable to restoration when the teeth were restored with glass fibre posts. Fracture resistance had no correlation with fracture mode, regardless of the post system and type of tooth analysed. Post system had no significant effect on fracture resistance, regardless of the type of tooth. The mode of fracture was more restorable with glass fibre posts.

Fractographic analysis of clinically failed anterior all ceramic crowns

To identify the site of crack initiation and propagation path of clinically failed all ceramic crowns by fractographic analysis. Three clinically failed anterior IPS Empress II crowns and two anterior In-Ceram alumina crowns were retrieved. Fracture surfaces were examined using both optical stereo and scanning electron microscopy. Fractographic theory and fracture mechanics principles were applied to disclose the damage characteristics and fracture mode. All the crowns failed by cohesive failure within the veneer on the labial surface. Critical crack originated at the incisal contact area and propagated gingivally. Porosity was found within the veneer because of slurry preparation and the sintering of veneer powder. Cohesive failure within the veneer is the main failure mode of all ceramic crown. Veneer becomes vulnerable when flaws are present. To reduce the chances of chipping, multi-point occlusal contacts are recommended, and layering and sintering technique of veneering layer should also be improved.

Influence of veneer application on fracture behavior of lithium-disilicate-based ceramic crowns

ObjectivesTo assess the influence of veneer application on fracture behavior, namely failure load and failure mode, of standardized lithium-disilicate-based crowns. MethodsForty molar crowns (IPS e.max Press, IvoclarVivadent) were fabricated in full anatomic (without veneer, 1.5–2.0mm at occlusal surface) and bi-layer (the occlusal surface is 0.7mm of veneer and 0.8–1.3mm core) contour representing two groups. Crown specimens were seated and adhered on composite resin dies. All specimens were loaded with a 6mm diameter steatite sphere over the central fissure to failure. Failure modes and fractographic patterns were analyzed by optical stereo and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fracture loads of the two groups were compared by the t-test, while the failure modes were analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test. ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in mean fracture load values (N±S.D.) between full anatomic [(2665.4±759.2)N] and veneered crowns [(1431.1±404.3)N] (p<0.001) and also in failure modes (χ2=6.465, p=0.011). Full anatomic crowns mainly showed bulk fracture, whereas veneered specimens predominately showed cohesive veneer and ceramic interface failure (75%); solely cohesive veneer failure (20%); and bulk fracture (5%). SignificanceWithin the limitations of this study, veneer application resulted in significant lower fracture load values compared to full anatomic crowns. Fracture initiated from occlusal fissures near the load application site. A combination of cohesive veneer and ceramic interface failure represents the main failure mode of lithium-disilicate-based bi-layered crowns, whereas full anatomic crowns failed mainly from ceramic bulk fracture at the occlusal fissures.

Does mechanical locking-base ceramic brackets reduce cracks at debonding?

Objectives: Debonding of chemically bonded ceramic brackets has been mostly led to enamel damages. This study aimed to evaluate enamel cracks followed by debonding ceramic brackets with mechanical retention. Study Design: Sixty extracted human premolar teeth were randomly divided into two groups. Metallic brackets and recently available ceramic brackets with mechanical retention were bonded to the teeth in first (MB) and second (CB) group respectively. After a week, the brackets were debonded using a pair of bracket-removing pliers assembled to a testing machine. Optical stereomicroscope and trans-illumination techniques were used to calculate the cracks and measure their length before bonding and after debonding. Paired t-test, independent t-test and McNemar's test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Metallic brackets showed higher mechanical bond strength compared to ceramic brackets with mechanical locks. In both groups, higher numbers of teeth with enamel cracks and a significant increase in the length of enamel cracks were evident subsequent to debonding. Inter-group deference in the number of teeth with cracks and the length of enamel cracks before or after debonding was not significant. Conclusions:The risk of producing enamel cracks after debonding of ceramic brackets with mechanical retention is the same as metallic brackets.

Influence of martensite volume fraction on tensile properties of triple phase ferrite–bainite–martensite steels

► Triple phase microstructures were obtained by step-quenching heat treatment. ► Higher dislocation density in ferrite, adjacent to martensite, was observed by TEM. ► This evidence is due to higher localized plastic strains of martensitic transformation. This paper presents the effect of martensite volume fraction ( V M ) on mechanical properties of AISI 4340 steel with ferrite–bainite–martensite microstructures. The steel bars were austenitized at 900 °C for 1 h followed by intercritical annealing at 740 °C for 100 min and quenching into a salt bath with temperature of 300 °C and holding at different times to obtain triple phase (TP) microstructures with 34 vol.% fraction ferrite and various martensite (or bainite) contents. Presence of three phases in adjacent to each other was confirmed by metallographic analysis and TEM studies. TEM observation also indicates higher density of dislocations within ferrite near martensite colonies compared to that near the bainitic phases. Results of the tensile and hardness tests showed that with increasing martensite volume fraction, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and hardness increase which is related to higher martensite volume fraction, higher strength of ferrite and higher residual stresses. The increment of martensite volume fraction increased ductility in terms of uniform and total elongation and tensile fracture energy. This evidence is due to the change of martensite morphology, increase of dislocation density at interphase boundaries and increment in residual stresses of the ternary phase steel with increasing V M . Fracture surface micrographs of tensile specimens, examined by SEM and stereo optical microscopy, confirmed the reduction in ductility of TP steels with increasing V M .

Characterization of oxides of stainless steel UNS S30400 formed in offshore environment

Thick corrosion products of austenitic stainless steel obtained from a steam turbine structure exposed in offshore environment were studied by optical stereomicroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The external surface of mechanical structure was exposed to a marine atmosphere and the internal one to a combustion gas for two decades. Characterization of corrosion products showed high content of akaganeite in the outer region and a mixture of akaganeite and hematite in the inner surface. Besides these characteristics, a distribution of nanosized superparamagnetic particles of akaganeite was found in the rusts.

Effect of gamma irradiation and restorative material on the biomechanical behaviour of root filled premolars

To investigate ex vivo the influence of gamma irradiation therapy and restorative material on fracture resistance, fracture mode and strain of root filled human premolars. Sixty extracted human maxillary premolar teeth were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10) determined by two study factors: (i) restorative materials: sound teeth, root filled teeth restored with composite resin, root filled teeth restored with amalgam; (ii) gamma irradiation: irradiated (subjected to 60 Gy of gamma irradiation in daily increments of 2 Gy) and nonirradiated. For the strain gauge test, two strain gauges per sample were attached on the buccal and palatal cusp surfaces (n = 5). Strain values were recorded during loading of 0-150 N. Fracture resistance (N) was assessed in a mechanical testing machine (n = 10). Strain gauge for each cusp and fracture resistance data were analysed by two-way anova (3 × 2) followed by the Tukey's honestly significant difference test (α = 0.05). The failure mode was evaluated using an optical stereomicroscope and classified according to the location of the failure. Gamma radiation therapy significantly reduced the fracture resistance of intact teeth. The strain was higher for teeth restored with amalgam than for those restored with composite resin. The teeth restored with composite resin had similar strain values to sound teeth. Nonirradiated teeth had more restorable failures than irradiated teeth. Gamma irradiation significantly reduced fracture resistance and increased cusp strain. The use of composite resin resulted in better biomechanical behaviour than amalgam for restoring root filled teeth whether or not they were submitted to radiotherapy.

Influence of Correlation between Electrical Discharge Machining Parameters with the Formation of Surface Defect’s in Products Machined by EDM

This paper shows a study of correlation between EDM´s parameters with the level of superficial defects development, which can lead to premature failure of die cast mold machined by EDM. The correlation of parameters was determined through experimental matrix that uses the DOE methodology (Design of Experiment). In order to evaluate the surfaces of some machined samples a stereo optical microscopy, SEM (the scanning electron microscope) and a micro hardness profile machine were used. The results show that in the worst machining condition, which is caused by association of long electric discharge pulse time-on and graphite machine-electrode, it is possible to minimize the amount of surface defects, without applying a subsequent machining process such as polishing, just using the reduced time-on´s electric discharge pulse, copper electrode and dielectric fluid with base of hydrocarbon.

Influence of post system and remaining coronal tooth tissue on biomechanical behaviour of root filled molar teeth

To investigate ex vivo the influence of post system and amount of remaining coronal tooth tissue on the fracture resistance, fracture mode and strain of root filled molar teeth. Seventy mandibular human molar teeth were divided into seven groups (n = 10), one control (sound teeth) and six experimental groups resulting from the interaction between the two study factors: post system (Pa, post absence; Gfp, glass fibre post; Cmp, cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core) and amount of remaining coronal tooth tissue (Fe, 2 mm of ferrule; NFe, no ferrule). Teeth in the experimental groups were restored with metal crowns. For the strain gauge test, two strain gauges per sample were attached on the buccal and proximal root surfaces, and the samples of each group (n = 5) were submitted to a load of 0-100N. Fracture resistance (N) was assessed in a mechanical testing device (n = 10). Strain gauge and fracture resistance data were analysed by two-way anova (3 × 2) followed by the Tukey's HSD and Duncan's test (α = 0.05). The failure mode was evaluated using an optical stereomicroscope and classified according to the location of the failure. The absence of ferrule was associated with lower fracture resistance regardless of the post system. Groups restored with glass fibre post and cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core had similar fracture resistance and higher values than groups without posts, regardless of the remaining coronal tooth tissue. Teeth with no ferrule and cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core resulted in catastrophic fractures and those with no ferrule and glass fibre post or no ferrule and post absence resulted in restorable failures. Buccal strain was higher in sound teeth and lower in teeth without posts. Glass fibre post insertion decreased the buccal strain compared to the teeth with ferrule and absence of post. Two millimetre of ferrule had a significant influence on cusp strain, fracture resistance and failure mode. The glass fibre post was as effective as the cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core in the restoration of root filled molars regardless of the remaining tooth tissue. Absence of a post decreased the fracture resistance and increased the cusp strain.

Efficacy of ProTaper Retreatment System in Root Canals Obturated with Gutta-Percha Using Two Different Sealers and GuttaFlow

Objective. To compare the efficacy of ProTaper retreatment files in removing three different obturating materials. Study Design. Forty-five human, single-rooted premolars were divided into three experimental groups. Group 1 was obturated with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer, Group 2 was obturated with gutta-percha and zinc oxide eugenol sealer, and Group 3 was obturated with GuttaFlow. Retreatment was done using the ProTaper universal rotary retreatment files. Root halves were visualized using magnifying loops at 3X magnification and optical stereomicroscope at 10X magnification. Images were analyzed using AutoCAD 2004 software to calculate area of the remaining debris in the canal. For statistical analysis were used variance test and ANOVA. Results. Total debris/canal area ratio between the three groups showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Conclusion. ProTaper retreatment system did not produce completely clean canals in any of the groups. However, it had the best efficacy towards removing silicon based obturating material GuttaFlow.

Relevance of tumor angiogenesis patterns as a diagnostic value and prognostic indicator in oral precancer and cancer

Tumor angiogenesis occurs by recruitment of endothelial cell precursors or by sprouting of existing capillaries, which differ from the normal vasculature by having an altered morphology that can be exploited for diagnosis and as a prognostic indicator. Improved technologies have propelled diagnosis into a new era. These technologies have to be used with great precision. The diagnosis of a dysplastic premalignant lesion of the oral mucosa cannot be based solely on clinical findings. Therefore histologic evaluation of a representative biopsy specimen is necessary. Accurate judgment of the proper site for biopsy is essential for reaching a correct diagnosis. The aim of this report is to analyze the vascular patterns with the help of direct oral microscopy and the technique of stereo-optical microscopy in the oral cavity to select biopsy sites, and compare the outcome of a directed biopsy with that of biopsy specimens obtained from sites selected solely on the basis of clinical criteria. The study sample comprised 50 oral mucosal lesions. A statistically significant difference was noted between samples judged to be microscopically representative sites. We conclude that this method would aid in early and better diagnosis and treatment planning of oral premalignant and malignant lesions by assessing the various vascular patterns in the mucosa.

Effect of anti‐rotation devices on biomechanical behaviour of teeth restored with cast post‐and‐cores

To test the hypothesis that the presence of an anti-rotation device (ARD) and its location can influence the biomechanical behaviour of root filled teeth restored with cast post-and-cores and metallic crowns. Fifth two bovine incisor roots were selected and divided into four groups (n = 13): Nd- without ARD; Bd- buccal ARD; Ld- lingual ARD; BLd- buccal and lingual ARD. The specimens were restored with cast post-and-cores and metallic crowns. After a fatigue process (3 x 10(5) 50 N), three strain gauges were attached on the buccal, lingual and proximal surfaces and the samples of each group (n = 3) were submitted to a 0-100 N load. Fracture resistance was assessed in a mechanical testing machine (n = 10). Strain values and fracture resistance data were analysed by one-way anova and Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test (alpha = 0.05). The failure mode was then evaluated under an optical stereomicroscope. Bidimensional models of each group were generated for finite element analysis (FEA) and analysed using the von Mises criteria. No significant difference in fracture resistance values and fracture modes occurred between the four groups. The BLd group had higher stress concentrations in the buccal dentine and higher strain values on the proximal surfaces. The anti-rotation devices did not influence significantly the fracture resistance and fracture mode. However, the stress-strain values were increased when the anti-rotation device was prepared on the buccal and lingual faces concomitantly.

The influence of incisal veneering porcelain thickness of two metal ceramic crown systems on failure resistance after cyclic loading

In some clinical situations, the length of either a prepared tooth or an implant abutment is shorter than ideal, and the occlusal clearance to be restored by a porcelain crown is large. Incisal thickness of the coping and the veneering porcelain should be considered to prevent mechanical failure of the crown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of incisal veneering porcelain thickness of metal ceramic systems on failure resistance after cyclic loading. With a standardized technique, 60 metal ceramic anterior crowns with 2 different incisal thicknesses of porcelain veneer (2.0 and 4.0 mm) and 2 different metal alloys (Pisces Plus (B), base metal, and Leo (N), high noble metal) were fabricated to fit a custom abutment and divided into 4 groups (B20, B40, N20, N40) (n=15). The crowns were then cemented using resin cement (PANAVIA 21) and thermal cycled and mechanically cycle loaded (49-N load) for 2,000,000 cycles. The specimens were evaluated for cracks and/or bulk fracture with an optical stereomicroscope (x10) and assigned a score of success, survival, or failure. The specimens without bulk fracture after cyclic loading were loaded along the long axis of the tooth, on the incisal edge, in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1.5 mm/min until fracture. The fracture strength value (N) was recorded. The exact logistic regression and Fisher's exact test were used to study the effect of different alloys and porcelain incisal thicknesses on the success and survival rates after cycle loading. The forces at failure (fracture) of different groups were compared using the rank transform-based nonparametric 2-way ANOVA (alpha=.05). According to exact logistic regression, crowns of the high noble alloy group showed significantly higher success rates (P=.002) than those of the base metal group after cyclic loading. The success rate of the crowns with 2 mm of incisal veneering porcelain was significantly higher (P<.001) than that of the crowns with 4 mm of incisal veneering porcelain. For crowns with a 4-mm incisal thickness, N40 showed a significantly higher success rate than B40 (P=.04, Fisher's exact test). As for survival rate, the exact logistic regression indicated that neither metal type (P=.11) nor thickness (P=.60) had a significant effect. The 2-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of thickness (P=.001) and no significant effect of metal type (P=.08) on the failure load. The high noble metal ceramic crowns demonstrated a significantly higher success rate after cyclic loading than the base metal ceramic crowns. Crowns with a porcelain incisal thickness of 2 mm showed, for both metal ceramic systems, a greater success rate than those with a 4-mm incisal thickness.

Evaluation of Two Automated Methods for Air-Void Analysis of Hardened Concrete

Abstract Air-void analysis of hardened concrete is typically performed according to ASTM C457–09 [“Standard Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Parameters of Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete,“ Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 4.2, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA], which can be tedious to perform and is operator subjective. Several alternative automated methods have been proposed, two of which are the Rapid Air 457 and the scanner method developed at Michigan Technological University. In each of these methods, images are collected from contrast enhanced surfaces of polished concrete, and image analysis is performed to calculate air-void system parameters. In this research, 22 concrete samples were examined using these two methods, the air-void system parameters were compared to those obtained from the ASTM C457 standard, and the precision of the results was compared to the recommendations of ASTM standard. It was concluded that the total air content and the spacing factor of the air voids measured by Rapid Air 457 and the scanner method were comparable to the air content and the spacing factor measured according to the standard manual method. Considering the fact that the automated image systems could detect air voids smaller in diameter than those typically seen by an operator, it was found that if these small air voids are counted, calculated spacing factors are smaller than those calculated by the manual method. If small diameter air voids are removed from the analysis, then spacing factors agree fairly well with those calculated by ASTM C457 from stereo-optical microscopy.

Influence of rebonding procedures on microleakage of composite resin restorations

During a composite resin restoration, an anticipating contraction gap is usually tried to seal with low-viscosity resin after successive polishing, etching, rinsing and drying steps, which as a whole is called rebonding procedure. However, the gap might already have been filled with water or debris before applying the sealing resin. We hypothesized that microleakage would decrease if the rebonding agent was applied before the polishing step, i.e., immediately after curing composite resin. On the buccal and lingual surfaces of 35 extracted human molar teeth, class V cavities were prepared withthe occlusal margin in enamel and the gingival margin in dentin. They were restored with a hybrid composite resin Z250 (3M ESPE, USA) using an adhesive AdperTM Single Bond 2 (3M ESPE). As rebonding agents, BisCover LV (Bisco, USA), ScotchBond Multi-Purpose adhesive (3M ESPE) and an experimental adhesive were applied on the restoration margins before polishing step or after successive polishing and etching steps. The infiltration depth of 2% methylene blue into the margin was measured using an optical stereomicroscope. The correlation between viscosity of rebonding agents and mciroleakage was also evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences in the microleakage within the rebonding procedures, within the rebonding agents, and within the margins. However, when the restorations were not rebonded, the microleakage at gingival margin was significantly higher than those groups rebonded with 3 agents (p < 0.05). The difference was not observed at the occlusal margin. No significant correlation was found between viscosity of rebonding agents and microleakage, except very weak correlation in case of rebonding after polishing and etching at gingival margin (r = -0.326, p = 0.041).

Failure analysis on the collapse of leaf spring steels during cold-punching

In this paper, the collapsing fracture of 60Si2Mn spring flat steels during cold-punching is analyzed by use of an optical microscope, a scanning electronic microscope, an optical stereomicroscopy, an energy dispersive spectrometer, an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, the hardness testers and a Charpy impact tester. The results show that the collapsing fracture of 60Si2Mn spring flat steels during cold-punching is due to the non- homogenization of microstructures and the nonmetallic inclusions. When the spring flats are cold-punched, the different deformation properties of the inclusions, the ferrites and the cementites initiated micro-cracks. The micro-cracks propagate along the interfaces of ferrites and cementites. The collapsing fracture is characteristic with transgranularity, cleavage and pearlites. The large space lamella pearlites with low strength are the main reason of the cleavage transcrystalline fracture. The prevention measurements are suggested.

IMPROVING THE REPEATABILITY OF LOW MAGNIFICATION MICROWEAR METHODS USING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGING

The recent advent of low magnification microwear analysis has allowed the efficient study of entire vertebrate faunas using only an optical stereomicroscope. Photographic visualization of microwear by this means has proven difficult, however, and, as a result, few high-resolution photos of low magnification microwear have been published. The repeatability of the method has also been questioned because low magnification microwear analysis involves the visual inspection of microwear features. We show that the use of high dynamic range imaging improves the visualization of microwear features in photographs and that using these photographs as a counting medium increases the repeatability of the method. We also show that counting from the photographs allows us to accurately classify ungulates as browsers, grazers, or mixed feeders.

Topographical evaluation of the major apical foramen in permanent human teeth

To determine the distance from the anatomical root apex to the major apical foramen and the position of the major foramen on the root apex. Crowns of 926 human teeth were sectioned at the cementum-enamel junction. Specimens were mounted on microscope slides for measurement parallel to the long axis of the teeth. The major foramen was identified as the largest-diameter opening at the root apex. A total of 1331 root specimens were evaluated using an optical stereomicroscope to an accuracy of 0.01 mm at 40 x (+/-10) magnification. The distance from the anatomical apex to the most apical point of the major foramen was measured, and its location (central, buccal, lingual, mesial and distal) was recorded. The mean distance between the major foramen and the anatomical root apex was 0.69 mm; the mean distance was larger in posterior teeth (0.82 mm) and smaller in anterior teeth (0.39 mm). A wide range of anatomical apex to major foramen distances were observed in all tooth groups: the greatest distance was in maxillary molars (0.95 mm) followed by mandibular pre-molars (0.87 mm) and mandibular molars (0.80 mm). The major foramen was at the tip of the root in 40% of teeth. The most frequent deviations of the foramen were to the buccal (20%) and distal (14%). In this sample of teeth without apical resorption the distance between the major foramen and the anatomical root apex was always <1 mm. Deviation of the major foramen from the anatomic apex varied widely amongst tooth groups.

Dental microwear analysis of notoungulates (Mammalia) from Salla (Late Oligocene, Bolivia) and discussion on their precocious hypsodonty

The extinct endemic South American notoungulates are remarkable for their early evolution of hypsodonty in the Late Eocene/Early Oligocene. Due to this ‘precocious hypsodonty’ they have been considered to be the earliest grazers, suggesting an early spread of grassland in South America (at least 10 Myr earlier than in North America). This hypothesis is based on the idea that the abrasion of their hypsodont cheek teeth might have been caused by silica phytoliths which are abundant in a rich-in-grass diet. The analysis of the dental microwear pattern (using an optical stereomicroscope connected to a tri-CCD camera) of hypsodont notoungulates from the Late Oligocene Salla Beds of Bolivia revealed the preponderance of thin parallel scratches on the fossil teeth of most of the taxa analyzed, like extant grazers. This microwear pattern above all indicates predominant sub-horizontal jaw movements in the chewing behaviour of notoungulates with “precocious” hypsodonty. This signals shearing movements as in a diet rich in tough plants. This peculiar chewing pattern and/or a larger ingested proportion of grass phytoliths or exogenous grit are further discussed as hypothetical causes of increasing wear on notoungulate teeth during middle Cenozoic times. We particularly argue that the putative precocious spread of grasslands in South America traditionally linked with notoungulate hypsodonty is still far from being supported. Many questions arise concerning the development of hypsodonty within notoungulates and this case perfectly illustrates that the relations between high-crowned mammals and the source of tooth wear in the fossil record may not be straightforward.

The influence of veneering porcelain thickness of all-ceramic and metal ceramic crowns on failure resistance after cyclic loading

In some clinical situations, the length of either a prepared tooth or an implant abutment is shorter than ideal, and the thickness of a porcelain crown must be increased. Thickness of the coping and the veneering porcelain should be considered to prevent mechanical failure of the crown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of veneering porcelain thickness for all-ceramic and metal ceramic crowns on failure resistance after cyclic loading. All-ceramic and metal ceramic crowns (n=20) were fabricated on an implant abutment (RN Solid Abutment) for the study. Two different framework designs with 2 different incisal thicknesses of veneering porcelain (2 mm and 4 mm) were used for each all-ceramic and metal ceramic crown system, resulting in 4 experimental groups (n=10) with identically shaped crowns. The all-ceramic crown consisted of alumina (Procera AllCeram) frameworks and veneering porcelain (Cerabien), while metal ceramic crowns were made of high noble metal (Leo) frameworks and veneering porcelain (IPS Classic). All crowns were cemented on the corresponding abutments using a resin cement (Panavia 21). They were subjected to 1000 cycles of thermal cycling (5 degrees C and 55 degrees C; 5-second dwell time). The crowns were tested with a custom-designed cyclic loading apparatus which delivered simultaneous unidirectional cyclic loading at 135 degrees, vertically, at an rpm of 250, with a load of 49 N. Each specimen was loaded for 1.2 x 106 cycles or until it failed. The specimens were thoroughly evaluated for cracks and/or bulk fracture with an optical stereomicroscope (x10) and assigned a score of success, survival, or failure. The specimens without bulk fracture after cyclic loading were loaded along the long axis of the tooth, on the incisal edge, in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1.5 mm/min, until fracture. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the success and survival rate between the 2 different materials (alpha=.05). Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze data in terms of material, porcelain thickness, and interaction effect. Also, a 2-sample t test was performed to compare between 2 thicknesses within the same material (alpha=.05). According to the Fisher's exact test, the all-ceramic group showed significantly higher success (P=.003) and survival rates (P=.001) than the metal ceramic group. For the failure load, the 2-way ANOVA showed significant effects for material (P<.001) and porcelain thickness (P=.004), but not a significant interaction effect (P=.198). For the metal ceramic groups, crowns with a 2-mm porcelain thickness showed a significantly greater failure load than crowns with a 4-mm porcelain thickness (P=.004). However, all-ceramic groups did not show a significant difference between the 2 different thicknesses of veneering porcelain (P=.198). The all-ceramic crowns showed significantly higher success and survival rates after cyclic loading, but lower failure loads than metal ceramic crowns. The thickness of the veneering porcelain affected the failure load of the metal ceramic crowns, but not that of the all-ceramic crowns.