Occlusal Relationship Assesment of Monolithic Zirconia Fixed Dental Prosthesis

All teeth preparations will be carried out ensuring the minimum material thickness for monolithic FDPs (0.8-1 mm margin thickness, 1 mm occlusal thickness) by one experienced investigator (DK). To prevent any possible carry-over effect, the impression acquisition order will be randomized.

The control group FDPs (metal-ceramic) will be fabricated with a complete analog workflow. Accordingly, a polyether dual-phase impression (Impregum Penta Soft Quick and Soft Quick, 3M) will be taken from the restoration arch and a Polyvinylsiloxane (PVS) impression material will be used for the impression of the antagonist arch. Face bow transfer (Whip Mix Face bow0 will be done. Following the stone master model (Type IV dental rock, Fuji) obtention, the maxillary models will be mounted to a semi-adjustable articulator based on the face bow record and mandibular models will be then mounted with the aid of laterotrusive and MI records. The MI and laterotrusive records will be taken with a PVS bite registration material. The Cr-Ni frameworks will be fabricated with lost-wax technique (Brand?), manually layered with feldspathic veneering porcelain (Vita), and glazed by one experienced dental technician.

The test group FDPs (high translucent monolithic Zr) (Aidite Multilayer 3D) will be fabricated by a complete/model-free digital workflow. The digital quadrant impressions of the preparation, antagonist as well as bite registration will be obtained by the use of an IOS (Trios 3, 3Shape). The files will be sent to a CAD software (Dental System, 3Shape) directly via the communication tool (3 Shape Communicate, 3Shape). Following CAD, the high translucent monolithic Zr 3-unit FDPs will be computer-aided manufactured (CORITEC 350i Loader, imes-icore GmbH). FDPs will be high-gloss polished, glazed, and sent to the dental clinic for the try-in session. Monolithic Zr design and manufacturing process will be completed by one dental technician that is highly experienced in CAD/CAM.

Clinical occlusal adjustment:

A standardized occlusal adjustment strategy will be adopted and executed by one investigator for both control and test group FDPs. In half of the restoration sites, monolithic Zr restorations will be the ones to have been tried first whereas in the other half metal-ceramic FDPs were the first. Initially, distal and mesial approximal contact areas, then the internal fit will be checked and adjusted to eliminate any interferences in order to ensure the optimal fitting of the restorations. For the occlusal adjustment amount calculation, the FDPs will be fixed on the prepared teeth provisionally and scanned by an IOS (Trios 3, 3Shape) to record the pre-adjustment FDP volume. The occlusal contacts and adjustment needs were assessed while still the restorations are fixed. The occlusal adjustment strategy will be as follows: Under normal occlusal forces, 40-micron articulation paper (Arti-Check micro-thin, Bausch, Cologne, Germany) will be used and followed by 12-micron articulation foil (Shimstock-foil, Bausch, Cologne, Germany) under strong occlusal force. The FDPs' occlusal contact design will be ensured to hold the articulation foil under strong occlusal force. Thereafter, once ensuring the FDPs to remain fixed, intraoral digital quadrant impressions (Trios 3, 3 Shape) will be taken by the same investigator in order to record the post-adjustment volume of the FDPs. After chairside finishing and polishing of the adjustment areas, Monolithiz Zr FDPs will be adhesively luted by a composite cement as the definitive restoration.