Influence of Occlusal Thickness and Radicular Extension on the Fracture Resistance of Premolar Endocrowns from Different All-Ceramic Materials

Endocrowns are primarily recommended in a molar region with a standardized preparation design. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different occlusal preparation depths, pulp chamber-radicular extension, and all-ceramic materials on the fracture resistance of premolar endocrowns. Ninety human premolar teeth were root canal treated, randomly divided into three main groups according to all-ceramic material used for fabrication as Lithium Disilicate (LD) ceramic, Polymer infiltrated ceramic (PIC) and High translucency zirconia (HTZ). They were further subdivided into three subgroups (n = 10) according to preparation design of 2 mm occlusal reduction, 4.5 mm occlusal reduction and 4.5 mm occlusal reduction with 2 mm radicular extension. The endocrowns from respective restorative materials were fabricated, surface conditioned, and cemented with self-adhesive resin cement. All samples were thermocycled for 5000 cycles and subjected to compressive static load at 45° angluation with the cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/minute until the fracture. The mean fracture resistance of LD ceramic at 2 mm, 4.5 mm thickness and radicular extension was 62.55 MPa, 45.80 MPa, 74.27 MPa respectively. The corresponding values for the PIC and HTZ ceramics were 26.30 MPa, 21.65 MPa, 25.66 Mpa and 23.47 MPa, 27.30 MPa, 37.29 MPa respectively. The LD ceramic and greater extension inside the pulp chamber had higher fracture resistance