Guillermo Bernai.

DDS, MSD
Bogota, Colombia
Rose Marie /lines, DOS. MSD'
David T. Brown, DDS. MS'

The Effect of Finish Line

Form and Luting Agent on
the Breaking Strength of
Dicor Crowns

Carlos A. Munoz, DDS, MSD*

Charles /, Coodacre, ODS, MSD"
Indiana University School of Dentistry

Molar teeth were prepared to a standardized cylindric form

using a lathe. Dicor crowns were lufed on these preparations
using zinc phosphate, glass-ionomer, and resin cements. The
crowns were thermocycled and subjected to fracture loading
fo compare the effect of fhe different luting agents on
fracture strength. Five finishing lines were used to determine
if resin cement and associated bonding procedures could
counteract the negative effect certain finish lines produce on
all-ceramic crowns. When resin cement was used in
conjunction with restoration and tooth precementation
bonding treatments, the crowns were significantly stronger
than when glass-ionomer or zinc phosphate cements were
used. No difference in strength was found between the five
finish lines when the crowns were cemented with resin and
associated bonding procedures. Int I Proslhodont
1993;6:286-290.

The selection of a luting agent and/or restoration

and tooth precementation bonding procedures
have been shown to affect the strength of allceramic restorations. Grossman and Nelson' fabricated 50 Dicor crowns to fit identically prepared
extracted human teeth and found that crowns luted
using zinc phosphate cement had significantly
lower crushing strengths than crowns luted using
Dicor light-activated resin cement.
Mclnnes-Ledoux et al' determined that surface
treatment of enamei and dentin increased the
bond strength of glass-ionomer cement and that
Dicor iight-activated resin cement produced higher
bond strengths than three different glass-ionomer
cements.
Duffin et al" tested the fracture resistance of
Dicor crowns of varying thicknesses that had been
luted using different agents on extracted third molars. The highest overall fracture resistance occurred when resin cement was used in combination
with etched enamel and the ceramic thickness was
0.5 mm.
Malament and Grossman- evaluated the clinical
performance of Dicor crowns luted using a lightactivated resin cement and bonding procedures.

everal investigations have been reported'"^ con-

S cerning the effect of tooth preparation design

on the breaking strength of Dicor (Dentsply, York,
PA) complete crowns. The following tooth preparation designs were found to enhance all-ceramic
restoration strength: (1) a total occlusal convergence of 10 degrees; (21 a shoulder finish line with a
sharp axiogingival line angle; (3) a finish line with
minimal cervical slope; and (4) a finish line with
minimal variation in its occlusocervical location
around the circumference of the tooth. FHowever,
these studies did not determine if the use of resin
cement and associated bonding procedures could
counteract the weakening effect of certain finish
line forms.

'Associate Professor, Department of

"Professor and Chairman, Department

Proslhodootics.
of Prosthodontics.

Reprint requests: Dr Rose Marie Iones, Iridiara University,

of Dentistry, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis,
46202.

School
Indiana

The International lournal I Prosthodortk

286

nal et al

Fig 1 Finishing line forms:

A, shouider with a 0.5-mm rounding of the axiogingival line angle:
B, shoulder witii a 0 3-mm rounding of the axiogingivai line angle:
C, shoulder with a 90-degree axiogingival line angle; D, shoulder
with a 135-degree cervical slope
and sharp axiogingivai line angle:
E, shoulder with a 0,4-mm-wide
axiogingivai groove.

Finish Line Form and Luting Agents

0,5 mm

0,3 mm

\n

0,4 mm

One practitioner placed 397 crowns over 33

months. The overall success rate for bonded Dicor
crowns was 98,7% and was significantly higher than
previously reported values for nonbonded techniques. The restorations had a mean axial wall
thickness of 1,82 mm and a mean posterior occlusal
thickness of 1,74 mm,
Thepurposesof fhis study were to determine: (1)
if different luting agenfs produce variations in allceramic restoration strength and (2) if the use of
resin cement and associated bonding procedures
would counteract the negative effect of certain
finishing line designs.
Materials and Methods
One hundred five intact, extracted human maxillary first molars were cleaned and continuously
stored in distilled water to maintain their integrity.
The teeth were prepared using five different finish
line forms (Fig 1), To uniformly prepare each tooth,
fhe rotational center was determined using a
custom-made centering device (Tiber Industries,
Bogota, Colombia) and then the teeth were
mounfed in a cylindric acrylic resin (Formafray, Kerr
Mfg, Romulus, Ml) base. Uniform cylindric tooth
preparations were made using a lathe and diamond
rotary instruments by reducing the external surface
of the tooth into a cylindric form, then creating fhe
finish lines shown in Fig 1, Finish line E was prepared using two different diamond instruments,
A total occlusal convergence angle of 10 degrees
was used in conjunction with a finish line depth of
1,2 mm for all tooth preparations. Dimensional uniformity was verified using digital calipers (Mitutoyo
Digimatic Caliper 0,01-100 mm, Code No, 500-350,
Mitutoyo Corp, Japan) and a Boley gauge machined
so Ihat the calipers possessed a 10-degree convergence angle. The mean variation in tooth preparation diameter and height were found to be 0,09 mm
and 0,07 mm, respectively.

Fig Z Left, schematic diagram of extracted tooth and iufed restoration with
load being appiied through a bail bearing
attached to Ihe moving head of an instron
testing machine Right, occlusal view of
restoration showing three triangular
ndges that were brougiit mto simuitaneous contact with the bali bearing prior to
testing.

Impressions of the prepared teeth were made

using a poly(vinyl siloxane) impression material
(Reprosil, Caulk Dentsply, Milford, DE], and 105
stone dies (Prima Rock, Whip Mix Corp, Louisville,
KY) were made,
A complete contour master wax pattern with
three cusps was formed with an occlusal thickness
of 1.5 mm in the depth of the occlusal grooves and
2,3 mm at the cusp tips. The axial wall thickness was
1,2 mm cervicaily and increased to 1,6 mm at the
occiusal surface. The triangular ridges were formed
so that a 6-mm-diamefer stainless sleel ball bearing
would make simultaneous contact with the three
ridges of the crowns during fracture testing (Fig 2),

287

The Internationai Iournal o Prosihodoiitics

Finish Line Form and Luting Agents

(Fleck's Mizzy Inc, Cherry Hill, Nj]; I2) glassionomer cement (Fuji Glass lonomer 1 Luting Cement, Scottsdale, AZ); or (3] visible light-activated
resin cement IDicor, Dentsplyl. The rounded internal finish line was selected to facilitate fabrication
of the specimens.
To determine if resin cement could counteract
the negative effect of certain finish line characteristics, 15 additional restorations were luted using
resin cement on teeth prepared with each of the
other finishing lines shown in Fig 1. Dicor visible
light-activated resin cement was used in conjunction with the enamel, dentin, and restoration precementation treatments listed in Table 1. The cemented crowns were placed in a humidor at 37C
for 7 days and then subjected to 2,500 thermal
cycles between 7C and 47C with adwell timeof 30
seconds at each temperature. The crowns were
then stored for 1 week at 3 7 ^ and 100% humidity
and then tested to fracture.

A 4-mm-long, 10-gauge Y-shaped wax sprue form

was aftached to the wax pattern, and a polytvinyl
siloxanel mold was fabricated to permit the formation of duplicate wax patterns using the wax injection technique described by Friedlander et al.^
Tbe axial and occlusal walls of each stone die
werecoatedwith two layers of Dicor die spacer that
were found to range between 35 and 50 ixm.' Die
lubricant (Slaycris Products, Portland, OR] was applied, and the die was placed in the previously
fabricated siiicone mold that was supported by a
stone matrix secured in position with an elastic
band. Inlay wax (Kerr Mfg] was heated to ZSO^F in a
wax-injection apparatus lAutrol, Pro-Craft, GFC,
Carlstadt, N)], and 105 identical patterns were made.
The wax patterns were recovered from the mold,
the margins were refined on each die, and Dicor
crowns were fabricated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Two layers of Dicor
shading porcelain (D-C3] were applied and fired.
To verify that differences in restoration strength
could be detected when different luting agents
were used with this tooth-restoration experimental
model, 15 crowns Imade for dies with a shoulder
finish line and 0.3 mm of axiogingival rounding; Fig
1, finish line B) were luted using each of the following three materials: 11) zinc phosphate cement

Each crown was placed in a testing jig specially

fabricated for this study. With the use of 0.04-mmthick articulating paper (Bausch Articulating Paper,
Dentrade Internat, San Francisco, CA], the crowns
were aligned so the three triangular ridges were
brought into simultaneous contact with the 6-mm
stainless steel ball bearing fitted into the moving

Table 1 Restoration and Tooth Pretreatment and Cementation Procedures Using

Dicor Visible Li g ht-Activated Resin Cement
Restoration pretreatment

Tooth pretreatment

Crown dried with

compressed air

Tooth cieaned witti oil-free

nontluoride prophylaxis
paste, rinsed with water tor
15 seconds, and dried with
compressed air for 10
seconds

Base and oataiyst mixed in

equal portions tor 30
seconds

Ammonium hitiuoride etching

gel applied to internal surtace
for 1 minute

Enamel etched with Gluma

Etchant (Coiumbus Dental,
St Louis, MO) for 30 seconds

Cement placed into the

crown and crown seated
using firm finger pressure fo
express excess cement

Crown rinsed with water tor

15 seconds

Tocth rinsed with water for 10

seconds and then dried with
compressed air

Crown placed under 3.5-kg

ioad

Crown air dried for 10

seconds

Gluma 2 oleanser applied to

dentin for 30 seconds

Cement light-polymerized for

30 seconds, moving iight
wand over ali crown surfaces

0.1% silane Dicor coupling

agent solution applied for 3
minutes

Tooth rinsed lor 10 seconds

with water and air dried
Giuma 3 primer applied to
dentin for 30 seconds, tooth
then dried with compressed
air

Excess cement removed

Crown air dried tor 10

seconds and set aside for 24
hours

Gluma 4 sealer applied to

enamei and dentin, tooth
then dried with compressed

I of Prosthodontics

288

Cement poiymerized tor an

additionai 2 minutes

Volume 6, Nur"!

Finish Line Form and Luting Agents

head of a mechanical testing machine (Instron

Model 1123, Instron Corp, Canton, MA) (Fig 2). A
crosshead speed of 1 mm/min was used and the
load at fracture was recorded on tbe chart of the
testing machine.
The mean and standard deviation were calculated
for each group and fhe resulfs subjecfed fo a twoway analysis of variance. Since differences among
means were f o u n d , a Newman-Keul's multiple
comparison test was performed to identify differences between groups.

Discussion

It appears that use of resin cement and/or one or

more of the associated procedures, such as etching
the internal restoration surface or the surface treatment of the tooth, was able to counteract tbe negative effect of a sloping finish line. Therefore, the
form of the finish line does not appear to be as
important when a resin lufing agent and bonding
procedures are used. However, it should be remembered that other factors may have been responsible for this finding and the same results
might not occur clinically. The cylindric machined
tooth preparation established a finishing line of
uniform depth on all surfaces. The finishing line
was located at the same occlusocervical level
around the tooth's circumference, a factor found to
increase the strength of Dicor crowns,' even
though this might be impossible to achieve clinically. Tbe flat machined occlusal surface may have
provided additional restoration support. Tbe macbined tooth preparations and stylized wax pattern
produced a restoration with uniform thickness of
the ceramic material axially and occlusally. Also, an
optimal total occlusal convergence angle^' of 10
degrees was used on all the tooth preparations.

Results
Restorations luted using fbe visible l i g h t activated resin cement and associated bonding procedures were significantly stronger than fhose
luted using glass-ionomer or zinc phosphate cements (Table 2). Similar restoration strengths were
recorded for botb glass-ionomer and zinc pbosphate materials (Table 2). No differences in strength
were found between tbe five finish line designs
when the light-activated resin cement and bonding
procedures were used (Table 3).

Additional research is needed to further clarify

the effect of the following factors upon restoration
strength when resin cements and bonding procedures are used : aspects of tooth preparation design
such as total occlusal convergence and occlusocervical finish line location; etching of the internal
ceramic surtace; and the precementation treatments of the prepared tooth surfaces. Another aspect thaf needs to be evaluated is the mechanism
by which tbe resin cement improves the strength of
the restoration. Finite element analysis modeling
has shown that when cements fill internal tiaws.

Table 2 Effect of Cement on Restoration Strength

Using Finish Line With Shoulder and 0.3 mm of
Axiogingival Rounding (n = 15)'
Breaking
strength (kg)

Cement
Visibie iightactivated resin
Glass-ionomer
Zinc phosphate

104.80
98.33

21.28
20.61

Lislet) ir decreasing order of restoralion sirenglh.

Values connected by vertical lirie are not signilicantiy ditrererl at (he
95% confidence level (Newman-Keui's test).

Table 3 Effect of Finish Une on Restoration Strength (n = 15)'

Group*
D
C
B
E
A

Finish line.
axiogingi^fal iihe angle form

Cement-f

135-degree cervical slope, sharp

axiogirigivai line angle
90-degree shoulder sharp
axiogingivai line angle
Shouider with 0.3 mm of axiogingival
roundihg
Shoulder with axiogingival groove
Shcuider with 0.5 mm of axiogihgivai
rounding

Breakin
strength (kg)

SD

VLAR

148.47

21.11

VLAFt

145.20

21.50

VLAR

142.73

21.68

VLAR
VLAR

141.00
129.13

26.56
29.57

Groups designated ,n accordance it Fig 1, iisted in decreasing order ot restoralion strerglh..

::c'tL^d''^y^raMrnVr:nct..nifican^
test).

r e 6 . Number 3,1993

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The International Journal of Prosthodontic

and Luting Agent5

such as voids in the crown, a significant improvement in tensile stress distribution results/

References
1, Friedlander LD, Munoz CA, CoodacreQ, Doyle MC, Moore
BK, Andres CJ, The effect of tooth preparation design on the
breaking strength of Dicor crowns: Part 1, Irtt ) Prosthodont
1990;3:159-16a,
2, Doyle MG, Munoz CA, Goodacre C|, Friedlander LD, Moore
BK, The effect of tooth preparation design on the breaking
strength ot Dicor crowns: Part 2, Int I Prosthodont 1990;
3:241-24B.
3, Doyle MC, Coodacre CI, Muoz CA, Andres C], The effect of
tooth preparation design on the breaking strength of Dicor
crowns: Part 3. Int | Prosthodont 1990;3:327-340,
4, Grossman DC, Neison |W, The bonded Dicor crovi'n IIADR
abstract B00|. | Dent Res 19B7;66special issuel:206,
5, Mclnnes-Ledoux PM, Ledoux WR, Weinberg R. A bond
strength study of luted castable ceramic restorations. ] Dent
Res1989;6a:e23-a25.
6, Duffin |L, Baies D|, Johnson CH. Fracture resistance of castable ceramic crowns IIADR abstract 429|. | Dent Res 1989;
6eispecial issue) :235,
7, Malament KA, Grossman DC. Clinicai appiication of bonded
Dicor crowns. Two year report |IADRabstract1S23|. J Dent Res
1990;69lspecialissue):299,
6, Anusavice K|, Hoijatie B, Tensile stress in glass-ceramic
crowns: Effect of flaws and cement voids. Int J Prosthodont
1992:5:351-358,

Conclusion
Dicor glass ceramic crowns were luted to human
molar teeth that had been machined to standardized cylindric preparations. Three different luting
agents and five finishing lines were evaluated.
Within the design of this study and under the conditions used, Dicor crowns luted using resin cement and associated bonding procedures were significantly stronger than those luted using
glass-ionomcr or zinc phosphate materials. Also,
variations in the finishing line form did not produce
significant differences in restoration strength when
a resin cement and associated bonding procedures
were used.

Literature Abstract _

A Seven-artd-a-Half-Year Survival Study ot Resin Bonded

Fixed Partial Dentures
Tbe purpose of tbis study was to collect survivai data on resin bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs)
that were piaced under controiled clinical conditions and to investigate possible relationships
between survival and retention type, cementation material, and five patient-related variables (location,
abutment restorations, abutment mobility, occlusion, and anterior spatiai relation). No tooth
preparations were carried out, except in premoiars and molars where guiding planes and occlusal
rests were prepared. The 203 RBFPOs included in the clinical triai were considered to have survived
when no loss of retention was detected by the observers or by the patients. The survival rates after 7.5
years were 75% for anterior RBFPDs and 44% for posterior RBFPDs. Etched metal RBFPDs were
significantly more retentive than perforated RBFPDs. The survival rates were 7B% and 63%,
respectively. With respect to cementation material, Clearfil F (Caves/Kuraray, Haarlem, Tbe
Netherlands) in combination with etched metal RGFPDs had tbe best overail survival rate. Maxillary
anterior R8FPDs were more susceptible to failure than mandibular anterior RBFPDs, The authors
conclude that the conservative approach of minimal tooth preparation can be successful in anterior
RBFPDs, However, the results seem to support tbe reported need for a design incorporating more
extensive tooth preparation in posterior RBrPDs.
Creugers NH|, Kayser AF, Van't Hof MA, / Dent Res 1992;71 (11): 1822-1825. HeferencFs: 35. Reprints; NH| Creugers,
Oepartmeni of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, Dental Sctiool, tjriversity of t^iimegen. Philips van
Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netfierlands. Richard R. Seals, Ir, DDS, MEd, MS, DepartmenI of
Piosthodontics, The University of Texas Health Science Center al San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

The internationai journal of Prosthodontics

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Volumes, Number 3,1993