The all-ceramic, inlay supported fixed partial denture. Part 3. Experimental approach for validating the finite element analysis

• Published in: Australian dental journal Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Thompson, MC, Field, CJ, Swain, MV
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2012
• Subjects: All-ceramic bridge; Computer-Aided Design; Dental Models; Dental Porcelain; Dental Stress Analysis - methods; Dentistry; Denture Design; Denture, Partial, Fixed; experimental design; Finite Element Analysis; Humans; inlay fixed partial denture; Inlays; Materials Testing; Mechanical Phenomena; Yttrium; Zirconium
• ISSN: 0045-0421; 1834-7819
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2011.01638.x

In a previous study, the authors used a finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the stresses developed during the loading of an all‐ceramic, inlay supported fixed partial denture and compared it with the more traditional full crown supported prosthesis. To date there has been little research into correlating the responses of the numerical model against physical mechanical tests; such validation analysis is crucial if the results from the FEA are to be confidently relied upon. This study reports on the experimental methods used to compare with the FEA and thereby to validate the predictive fracture behaviour of the numerical model. This study also outlines the methods for manufacture and testing of the ceramic structure along with observations of the fracture tests. In addition the procedure used for developing the FEA model for the test system is outlined.